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Rebecca White

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Not to be confused with Rebecca White (American politician), Rebecca White Berch, or Rebecca White (Emmerdale).

Rebecca White
MP
Rebecca White in front of a mural on Hobart's Eastern Shore
Rebecca White in 2023
51st Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania
In office
7 July 2021 – 10 April 2024
PremierPeter Gutwein
Jeremy Rockliff
DeputyAnita Dow
Preceded byDavid O'Byrne
Succeeded byDean Winter
In office
17 March 2017 – 15 May 2021
PremierWill Hodgman
Peter Gutwein
DeputyMichelle O'Byrne
Preceded byBryan Green
Succeeded byDavid O'Byrne
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
for Lyons
Outgoing
Assumed office
20 March 2010
Personal details
Born
Rebecca Peta White

(1983-02-04) 4 February 1983 (age 41)[1]
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Political partyLabor
SpouseRod Dann
ChildrenTwo
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania
OccupationPolitician
Websitewww.becwhite.com

Rebecca Peta White (born 4 February 1983) is an Australian politician. She has been a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2010, representing the seat of Lyons. She was state leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and leader of the opposition from 2017 to 2021 and from 2021 to 2024.

White was raised in Nugent, Tasmania, and completed arts and commerce degrees at the University of Tasmania. She joined the ALP at a young age and subsequently worked as a political adviser until her own election to parliament at the 2010 state election. White was elected unopposed as party leader in March 2017. She led the party to defeat at the 2018 election, although increasing the party's vote and number of seats. At the 2021 election, the party's vote went backwards and she subsequently resigned as party leader. White was succeeded in the role by David O'Byrne, who resigned after less than a month due to sexual harassment allegations. She subsequently returned as party leader, remaining in the role until her resignation after the 2024 election where the party was again defeated.

Early life and education

White grew up in Nugent, Tasmania, northeast of Hobart as a sixth generation Tasmanian.[2] She attended Sorell School, Rosny College and the University of Tasmania, where she studied journalism, political science, and international business management and marketing. She graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce degrees in 2004. She then worked as a political adviser for Labor MP for Denison Duncan Kerr and later Senator Carol Brown, and was Vice President of Tasmanian Young Labor.[citation needed]

Political career (2010–2017, 2024-)

State politics

For the 2010 Tasmanian state election, White was endorsed as one of the Labor candidates for Lyons. Her campaign focused on "renewal", pointing out that sitting MPs Michael Polley and David Llewellyn had both been in the parliament for over twenty years. Her advertising made use of Polly Waffle wrappers, "Pollywaffle" being a disparaging nickname for Polley. At the election, White narrowly defeated Llewellyn for the second Labor seat (also defeating the third sitting MP, Heather Butler).[3]

White is aligned with Labor Left.[4]

On the 29 November 2024, White delivered her valedictory speech to the Tasmanian House of Assembly.[5]

Federal politics

In November 2024, White was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to be the Labor Party’s candidate for the federal seat of Lyons at the next Australian Election, to be held in 2025.[6]

Opposition leader (2017–2024)

White in 2017

At a party meeting on 17 March 2017, Bryan Green resigned as Tasmanian Labor leader. White was elected leader unopposed, and hence Leader of the Opposition.[7]

Almost immediately the Liberal Party went on the attack, releasing a fake CV titled "Student, party hack and MP" referencing White's youth and that she has never worked outside politics.[8] White also expressed the hope that Shane Broad would fill the newly vacated seat, and promised to bring him into the ministry. Because of this the Liberals accused her of bribery, and referred her to the Tasmanian Electoral Commission. White responded that this stance "defies common sense".[9]

White announced in December 2017 that under a Labor government she would phase out pokies in pubs and clubs thus breaking the decades long monopoly of Federal Hotels.[10] The reason given was to protect people with mental health issues and the lower socio-economic strata, both of whom are susceptible to pokies addictions. Tasmanians lose over $110 million on pokies every year.[11][12] This phase out would take until 2023, and would come with a package to help pubs and clubs transition to other forms of revenue.[13] Following the election, White and the Labor party backtracked on their commitment to block the new licences under pressure from the federal party.[14]

In February 2018, she declared the ALP would not be supporting the Liberals in attempting to re-introduce the state's anti-protest laws.[15] White promised in the campaign to fund abortion clinics, after the Liberal government cut all funds to them.[16] At the election in March, White led Labor to a three-seat gain, while paring the Liberals back to a bare majority of one seat.

White led Labor to another defeat in the 2021 election and subsequently resigned as leader.[17] Following the resignation of the new party leader David O'Byrne just three weeks into the job, after sexual harassment claims against him, White was re-elected as party leader on 7 July 2021.[18]

White led the ALP to a fourth consecutive defeat at the 2024 election, after which she resigned as leader. White was succeeded as Labor leader by Franklin MP Dean Winter.[19][20]

Personal life

White married Rod Dann in November 2017.[21] She has one daughter, Mia, and a son, Hudson.[22] Mia was less than a year old when White was elevated to the leadership, and was regularly with White on the campaign trail in 2017.[23] In February 2021, White revealed that she was expecting a second child, due in June 2021.[24]

In November 2024, White travelled to the United States to campaign for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "White, Rebecca". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. ^ 7sd.com.au. "Interview – Rebecca White 24/08/17". www.7sd.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Antony Green's Election Blog: The Candidates for Lyons
  4. ^ Inglis, Rob (2 May 2021). "White's future as Labor leader clouded in wake of election defeat". The Advocate. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  5. ^ Killick, David (29 November 2024). "Former Labor leader Rebecca White's final state parliament speech". The Mercury. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  6. ^ Killick, David (12 November 2024). "Anthony Albanese visits Sorell to confirm Lyons candidate for upcoming federal election". The Mercury. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Green out, White in for Tasmanian Labor, the ABC understands". ABC News. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  8. ^ "New Labor leader Rebecca White gives nod to Shane Broad for Braddon". ABC News. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Bribery claims against new Labor leader Rebecca White". The New Daily. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Rebecca White defends claims that pokies ban is a health issue". www.tasmaniatalks.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Pokies Hurt People". pokieshurtpeople.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Labor's pledge to ditch pokies Tasmania's chance to lead nation, says Wilkie". ABC News. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  13. ^ Koziol, Michael (13 December 2017). "Tasmania could become first state to blow up the pokies under Labor plan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Tassie Labor bullied by Canberra and folds - Labor and Liberal beholden to pokies parasites". 7 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Tasmanian Liberals vow to resurrect anti-protest laws to stop workplace 'invasion'". ABC News. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  16. ^ Ford, Clementine (1 March 2018). "Women in Tasmania might soon be unable to get abortions". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  17. ^ Langenberg, Adam (15 May 2021). "Rebecca White stands down as Tasmanian Labor leader, endorses David O'Byrne as successor". ABC News. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Rebecca White returned as Tasmanian Labor leader after David O'Byrne's resignation". ABC News. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Dean Winter elected as new leader of Tasmanian Labor Party". Pulse Tasmania. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ Langengberg, Adam; Holmes, Adam (26 March 2024). "Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White resigns after three election losses". ABC News. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "A nice day for a White wedding: Labor Leader ties the knot". The Mercury. 4 November 2017.
  22. ^ Abblitt, Ebony (27 June 2021). "Rebecca White welcomes baby boy". The Examiner. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White with baby". ABC News. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  24. ^ Maloney, Matt (8 February 2021). "Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White announces pregnancy". The Examiner. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Tasmanian MP Rebecca White flies to USA to campaign for Kamala Harris". Pulse Tasmania. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Human Services
2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Labor Party in Tasmania
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Labor Party in Tasmania
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
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