13 Facts About Sharon Bird

Sharon Leah Bird is an Australian former politician.

Sharon Bird served as a minister during the late Gillard-Rudd years until Labor lost government at the next election.

Sharon Bird served as the Shadow Minister for Vocational Education from October 2013 until July 2016.

In 2021, Sharon Bird announced she would not be re-contesting at the 2022 Federal Election, retiring from politics.

Sharon Bird was born in Wollongong, and was educated at the University of Sydney and the University of Wollongong.

Sharon Bird was a TAFE and high-school teacher before entering politics.

Sharon Bird worked as an electorate officer for Colin Hollis, the member for the adjoining seat of Throsby, and was then a Senior Project Officer with the New South Wales Department of Juvenile Justice.

Sharon Bird was a member of the Shellharbour Council between 1991 and 1995.

Sharon Bird first contested the seat of Cunningham at the 2002 by-election held following the resignation of Labor's Stephen Martin.

On 2 March 2012, Sharon Bird was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills, and was promoted as Minister for Higher Education and Skills in a rearrangement of the Second Gillard Ministry on 25 March 2013.

In July 2013, Sharon Bird was appointed as the Minister for Regional Development, the Minister for Regional Communications and the Minister for Road Safety in the Second Rudd Ministry.

Sharon Bird is a supporter of same-sex marriage, voting in favour on the issue three times.

On 19 November 2021, Sharon Bird announced that she would not be contesting the 2022 election, retiring after 18 years as the member for Cunningham.