23 Facts About Penny Sharpe

Penny Sharpe has served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2005, representing the Labor Party.

Since March 2023, Penny Sharpe is the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and the Vice-President of the Executive Council since Labor's election victory in March 2023, having previously served as leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council between 2021 and 2023.

Penny Sharpe was succeeded as leader by Jodi McKay and as deputy leader by Yasmin Catley.

Penny Sharpe was briefly absent from the Legislative Council in 2015 when she resigned to contest the Legislative Assembly seat of Newtown at the 2015 state election.

Penny Sharpe was defeated in Newtown by Greens candidate Jenny Leong, and was re-appointed to the Legislative Council to fill her own vacancy.

Penny Sharpe was born in Canberra, but later moved to Sydney.

Penny Sharpe studied food technology at the University of New South Wales, where she became involved in student politics.

Penny Sharpe was elected president of the University of New South Wales Student Guild in 1993, the same year that she met her long-term partner, Jo Tilly.

Penny Sharpe rose to national prominence the following year when she became president of the National Union of Students.

Penny Sharpe was a co editor of Party Girls: Labor Women, a book about the role of women in politics.

Penny Sharpe was a Marrickville Council councillor from 2004 to 2008.

At the March 2004 local government elections, Penny Sharpe was elected as a Councillor for West Ward of Marrickville Council, serving a single term until September 2008.

Penny Sharpe largely refused to comment on her private life in the subsequent fracas, but announced her policy goals as improving access to education and eliminating discrimination against gay parents.

Penny Sharpe has made clear her intention to confront Clarke and Nile on gay rights issues; a stance that was heavily reflected in her maiden speech to parliament.

In March 2015, Penny Sharpe resigned from the Legislative Council to contest the lower house seat of Newtown at the 2015 state election.

Penny Sharpe was unsuccessful, with Jenny Leong of the Greens winning the seat, and subsequently announced her intention to contest preselection to be re-appointed to the vacancy caused by her own resignation.

Penny Sharpe played an instrumental role in achieving marriage equality for LGBTI Australians.

Penny Sharpe was a leading figure in the internal Labor Party push to shift the ALP's position to one of supporting marriage equality.

Penny Sharpe talked of building on the environmental reforms of the Wran and Carr governments, claiming, when she launched Labor's environment policy manifesto, that "NSW doesn't have another four years to waste to take real action on climate change and to arrest the biodiversity crisis in the state".

Penny Sharpe was set to recontest the deputy leadership, challenged by McKay's ally Yasmin Catley, but agreed to step aside and was appointed deputy leader in the Legislative Council.

Penny Sharpe resigned from her portfolios on 14 May 2021 over disagreements with the party's position on the Mandatory Disease Testing Bill.

Penny Sharpe abstained from voting before her resignation, which she claimed was not related to McKay's leadership.

On 8 June 2021, Penny Sharpe became the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council.