1. Verity Helen Firth was born on 28 August 1973 and is an Australian university executive and former politician.
19 Facts About Verity Firth
1. 2.
Verity Firth is the Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Technology Sydney.
3.
Verity Firth was the chief executive officer of the Public Education Foundation in Australia.
4.
Verity Firth became a member of the Labor Party at the age of 15.
5.
Verity Firth was elected as a councillor of the City of Sydney in 2004.
6.
Verity Firth was elected to the new seat of Balmain on 24 March 2007.
7.
Verity Firth was sworn in on 2 April 2007, receiving simultaneous appointment as Minister for Women, Minister for Science and Medical Research, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health and Minister Assisting the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water.
8.
Verity Firth was appointed as Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
9.
Verity Firth won early praise for her demand to the federal government that it fund state public schools to the same level as private schools.
10.
Verity Firth retained the Education portfolio under Rees' successor, Kristina Keneally.
11.
Verity Firth received media coverage for her opposition to the CBD metro, in the event that it would mean a bus interchange at Rozelle.
12.
Verity Firth was perceived as being at odds with economically conservative sections of the NSW Cabinet after her opposition to the privatisation of Sydney Ferries became public; at the time, the option of privatising Sydney's ferry fleet was examined by the NSW government against the opposition of unions and some residents.
13.
Verity Firth was defeated by Jamie Parker as the Member for Balmain at the 2011 state election.
14.
In May 2014, Verity Firth again won Labor preselection in the seat of Balmain for the 2015 state election.
15.
Verity Firth lost the election to then sitting member, Jamie Parker.
16.
Verity Firth was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.
17.
Verity Firth's brother is Charles Firth, a comedian and member of The Chaser.
18.
Verity Firth's aunt is Meredith Burgmann, the former NSW upper house president.
19.
Verity Firth refused to say how many tablets Chesher was buying and refused to say whether she had ever taken drugs.