Bronwyn Pike

Bronwyn Jane Pike (born 25 January 1956)[1] is a former Australian politician. She was Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and was the Member of Parliament for Melbourne from 1999 to 2012.

The Honourable Bronwyn Pike
Victorian Minister for Education
In office 3 August 2007 – 2 December 2010
Premier	John Brumby
Preceded by	John Lenders
Succeeded by	Martin Dixon
Victorian Minister for Health
In office 5 December 2002 – 3 August 2007
Premier	Steve Bracks
Preceded by	John Thwaites
Succeeded by	Daniel Andrews
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Melbourne
In office 18 September 1999 – 7 May 2012
Preceded by	Neil Cole
Succeeded by	Jennifer Kanis
Personal details
Born	25 January 1956 Tanunda, South Australia, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor
Alma mater	University of Adelaide
Profession	Teacher

Early life

Prior to entering Parliament, Pike worked as a teacher, a community services manager and as the Director of the Unit of Justice and Social Responsibility in the Uniting Church. She is also a former Board Director of Greenpeace Australia. Pike has a long history of advocating for social change, equality and the disadvantaged.

Pike has a son, Paul Coats, who is a former University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association President and an active socialist.[2][3]

Political career

Pike entered politics in 1999, at age 43. She was appointed the Minister for Housing and Aged Care and Minister Assisting the Health Minister in the government of Steve Bracks. In 2002 she was appointed as Minister for Community Services and Minister Assisting the Premier on Community Building.

In May 2007, Pike became the longest-serving female minister in Victoria's history, along with Lynne Kosky.

Pike announced her resignation from parliament on 7 May 2012 which triggered a Melbourne by-election. Labor retained the seat, with Jennifer Kanis narrowly defeating the Greens candidate, Cathy Oke.[4]

Minister for Health

Following the re-election of the Bracks government in late 2002, Pike was promoted to Minister for Health.

Minister for Education

On 2 August 2007, newly-appointed Premier John Brumby announced a cabinet reshuffle, which moved Pike from Minister for Health to Minister for Education.

Pike spearheaded the $1.9 billion Victorian Schools Plan to rebuild and modernise 500 Victorian schools over the four-year term of government. This included upgrades to technology wings; re-equipping science class rooms; building new schools in growth corridors. A key focus of this rebuilding program is encouraging joint-use of school and community facilities in areas ranging from libraries to sports fields. By 2011 more than 900 schools will have been rebuilt or modernised. The program has been tarnished by use of tactics to force school councils to vote for closure or merger of small schools by threatening to limit funds to the minimum amount as well as other tactics.[5]

Later career

Among her positions since she left politics, Bronwyn Pike is the Chair of UnitingCare Australia and serves on the board of Uniting NSW.ACT. She is a lifelong member of the Uniting Church.[6]

References

1. Parliamentary handbook of the parliament of Victoria Archived 3 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
2. Denying foreign students travel concessions 'racist'
3. On the Campus and the Streets: Fight Fees!
4. Arup, Tom (7 May 2012). "By-election looms as veteran Labor MP quits". The Age. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
5. Oakwood school 'pushed to merge' BY MICHAEL RANDALL Archived 9 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Our Board". Uniting Vic.Tas. Retrieved 9 July 2019.

External links

• Personal Website
• Official profile