Liza Mary Harvey is an Australian politician who was the Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 2008 to 2021, representing the seat of Scarborough.
20 Facts About Liza Harvey
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Liza Harvey was a minister in the government of Colin Barnett, and in 2016 was appointed deputy premier, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
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Liza Harvey was born in Manjimup, Western Australia, to Jill Annette and Eugene Michael Browne.
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Liza Harvey's mother was a descendant of George Randell, an early settler of Western Australia.
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Liza Harvey attended primary schools in Perth and Port Hedland, and secondary school at Mercedes College, Perth.
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Liza Harvey went on to study science at the University of Western Australia.
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Liza Harvey worked for Qantas between 1989 and 2000, holding positions in customer service and at the Qantas Club.
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Liza Harvey helped to run a recreational fishing business with her husband, and was involved with various local business associations.
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Liza Harvey won the newly created Scarborough with 55.2 percent of the two-party-preferred vote.
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In December 2010, Liza Harvey was made parliamentary secretary to Simon O'Brien, in his capacity as the Minister for Small Business.
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Liza Harvey was elevated to the ministry in June 2012, replacing Rob Johnson as Minister for Police and Minister for Road Safety.
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Liza Harvey was elected as his replacement unopposed in February 2016, and was sworn in as deputy premier a few days later, becoming the first woman to hold either position.
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In January 2017, Liza Harvey confirmed that she would stand for the Liberal leadership once Colin Barnett retired.
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Nahan resigned as leader on 13 June 2019, and Liza Harvey was elected his successor unopposed.
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Liza Harvey was the first woman to be the leader of the WA Liberal Party and the second woman to serve as WA opposition leader after Carmen Lawrence.
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Liza Harvey called for WA to open its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Liza Harvey was widely criticised for that position, including by some in her own party.
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At the 2021 election, Liza Harvey lost her seat of Scarborough to Labor's Stuart Aubrey.
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Liza Harvey had one daughter from a previous relationship, and they had a son and a daughter together.
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Liza Harvey's husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2011, and died from the disease in 2014, aged 55.