Ruth Stephanie Webber was born on 24 March 1965 and is an Australian politician.
15 Facts About Ruth Webber
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Ruth Webber was a Labor member of the Australian Senate from 2002 to 2008, representing the state of Western Australia.
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Ruth Webber was assistant coordinator of the Women's Electoral Lobby from 1985 to 1986.
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Ruth Webber was first elected as a delegate to ALP state and national conferences in 1986.
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Ruth Webber was assistant state secretary of the ALP in Western Australia from 1998 to 2001.
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At the 2001 federal election, Ruth Webber was elected to the Senate in second position on the ALP's ticket in Western Australia, winning a six-year term beginning on 1 July 2002.
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Ruth Webber was a member of a number of Senate committees and served as a deputy whip from 2004 to 2008.
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In November 2004, Ruth Webber was charged with wilfully misleading police and driving a vehicle on a suspended licence.
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Ruth Webber was convicted of driving while suspended in March 2005 and fined $200, while the charge of misleading police was ultimately withdrawn.
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In October 2006, Ruth Webber was relegated to third position on the ALP's Senate ticket for the next federal election, with Louise Pratt taking the higher position on the ticket.
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Ruth Webber failed to win re-election at the 2007 federal election with her term concluding on 30 June 2008.
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Ruth Webber was the last candidate to be eliminated, with Greens candidate Scott Ludlam winning the final seat.
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Ruth Webber publicly criticised the 457 visa scheme, in September 2006 stating businesses were abusing the scheme to bring in cheap foreign labour while local workers were unemployed.
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In 2009, as part of a review of the Gold Pass scheme for former federal MPs, it was reported that Ruth Webber had received nearly $50,000 of free air travel between July and December 2008.
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In January 2015, Ruth Webber became chief executive officer of Down Syndrome Australia, at which time she was deputy president of the Mental Illness Fellowship of Western Australia and a board member of Women's Health Works and Carers Western Australia.