Michaelia Cash

Senator The Honourable

Michaelia Cash
Senator The Honourable; Michaelia Cash
	Cash, 2014
Attorney-General of Australia
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 30 March 2021
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Christian Porter
Minister for Industrial Relations
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 30 March 2021
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Christian Porter
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 30 October 2020
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Simon Birmingham
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
	In office; 29 May 2019 – 30 March 2021
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Herself (as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education)
Succeeded by	Stuart Robert
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
	In office; 28 August 2018 – 29 May 2019
Prime Minister	Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Craig Laundy (as Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation)
Succeeded by	Herself (as Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business)
Minister for Jobs and Innovation
	In office; 20 December 2017 – 23 August 2018
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Herself (as Minister for Employment); Arthur Sinodinos (as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science);
Succeeded by	Kelly O'Dwyer (as Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations)
Minister for Employment; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service
	In office; 21 September 2015 – 20 December 2017
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Eric Abetz
Succeeded by	Herself (as Minister for Jobs and Innovation)
Minister for Women
	In office; 21 September 2015 – 20 December 2017
Prime Minister	Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Tony Abbott
Succeeded by	Kelly O'Dwyer
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women
	In office; 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Julie Collins (as Minister for Women)
Succeeded by	Herself (as Minister for Women)
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
	In office; 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott; Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by	Kate Lundy
Succeeded by	James McGrath
Senator for Western Australia
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1 July 2008
Preceded by	Ross Lightfoot
Personal details
Born	Michaelia Clare Cash; 19 July 1970 (age 51); Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia
Political party	Liberal
Parents	George Cash
Alma mater	Curtin University; University of London; University of Western Australia;

Michaelia Clare Cash (born 19 July 1970) is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for Western Australia since 2008, representing the Liberal Party. She is the Attorney-General of Australia and Minister for Industrial Relations since 30 March 2021. She was previously the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business and Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education in the Morrison Government from 2018 to 2021, having been the Minister for Jobs and Innovation in the Turnbull Government from 2017 to 2018, as well as before that Minister for Employment and Minister for Women from 2015 to 2017.

Early life[]

Cash was born on 19 July 1970 in Subiaco, Western Australia.^[1] She is one of four children born to Ursula Clare Yelland and Samuel Ernest "George" Cash. Her father, the owner of a construction company, was elected to state parliament in 1984 and served as President of the Western Australian Legislative Council.^[2]^[3] Cash grew up in the Perth suburb of Mount Lawley.^[4] She was educated at Iona Presentation College, a Catholic school in Mosman Park.^[5]

Cash graduated from Curtin University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts with a triple major in public relations, politics, and journalism.^[6] She also holds an Honours Degree in Law from the University of London and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Western Australia.^[7] After graduating from Curtin she spent three years backpacking overseas, travelling through Israel, Egypt and Turkey.^[4]

Cash joined the Liberal Party in 1988.^[4] She was an executive member of the Curtin University Young Liberals from 1988 to 1990 and then the Western Australian Young Liberal Movement where she held numerous positions including State Vice-President. She was a long-time member of the Liberal Party of Western Australia's State Council and was the President of the Moore Division. She has also served on the Party's state executive.^{[citation needed]}

Prior to her political career, Cash was a solicitor with the law firm Freehills where she worked from 1999 to 2008. She practised in all areas of employment and industrial law including industrial relations, employee relations, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity, executive employment and unfair dismissal.^[8]

Political career[]

Cash won preselection for the Liberal Party Senate ticket in 2007 and went on to be elected to the Federal Parliament at the 2007 federal election. She contested the election as the number three candidate of the Liberal Senate ticket in Western Australia.

Since entering Federal Parliament Cash has served on many Senate Committees and was also a Temporary Chair of Committees between February and September 2010. In September 2010, while in opposition, Cash was promoted to the positions of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration. At this time Cash was also appointed Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.

After the election of the Abbott Government in September 2013, Cash was sworn in as the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, as well as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women. Following a leadership change that led to the formation of the Turnbull Government, Cash was sworn in on 21 September 2015 as the Minister for Employment, the Minister for Women, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service.^[9]^[10]

In October 2017, the Australian Workers' Union offices were raided by the Australian Federal Police, and media were tipped off prior to the event. Cash advised the Senate Estimates that a staffer of hers found out about the raid from "a media source" and then spread the word to more journalists, having previously denied to an Estimates hearing on the previous day that her office had any involvement.^[11]^[12] The staffer in question resigned.^[13] Cash was ordered to turn over documents in her department relating to the raid.^[14] Cash's legal fees for her response to a federal court subpoena were paid for through taxpayer funding.^[15] The raids were eventually held to be valid by the Full Federal Court in November 2020.^[16]

In a December 2017 ministerial reshuffle, Cash was appointed to the new position of Minister for Jobs and Innovation.^[17] The employment portfolio was abolished, while Kelly O'Dwyer assumed responsibility for both the Women and Public Service portfolios.^[18]

Cash has been criticised for refusing to release a report into an 18-year-old who died while on a Work for the Dole assignment in April 2016. At the time, Cash promised to release the report within a month, as of April 2018 the final report was not completed, and an internal report to Cash completed in September 2016 had not been released.^[19]

Cash offered her resignation from the frontbench on 22 August 2018, during the events of the Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 2018.^[20] Scott Morrison replaced Turnbull as Prime Minister two days later on 24 August 2018. Cash was then appointed the Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education in the First Morrison Ministry.

In the Second Morrison Ministry, Cash was appointed the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business in May 2019. In October 2020, she was additionally appointed the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate.^[21]^[22]

On 29 March 2021, it was announced that Cash would be appointed as Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations in a cabinet reshuffle replacing Christian Porter. She was sworn in the following day.^[23]

Personal life[]

Cash is married to Richard Price, a barrister and the brother of late political journalist Matt Price. They met while working together at Freehills.^[4]

Cash was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 25, which progressed into psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. She was unable to have children due to the associated medication, and "also never wanted to risk passing on a chronic illness to another person".^[4]

Notes[]

^ Cash served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, while Prime Minister Abbott held the portfolio of Minister for Women, until 21 September 2015 following a leadership spill, when Prime Minister Turnbull appointed Cash as Minister for Women.

References[]

^ "Senator Michaelia Cash". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
^ "Hon Samuel (George) Ernest Cash". Members’ biographical register. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
^ Spagnolo, Joe (20 December 2015). "WA MP Michaelia Cash inspired by sister Joanna who lost battle with cancer". PerthNow. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cadzow, Jane (31 July 2021). "Cat-loving, coffee-swilling, karaoke-singing Thatcher fan: meet Attorney-General Michaelia Cash". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ Clark, Andrew (8 January 2016). "It will take the strength of a Margaret Thatcher-like figure to reform IR". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
^ Jauk, Daniel (6 October 2015). "Curtin graduate appointed Minister for Women and Minister for Employment". Curtin University. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
^ Williams, Azadeh (5 April 2016). "Smashing the Glass Ceiling: Senator Michaelia Cash's Journey From Lawyer to Workplace Reformer". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
^ "Senator Michaelia Cash's Journey From Lawyer to Workplace Reformer". Legal Insight. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
^ "Malcolm Turnbull announces new Cabinet in 'process of renewal', drops Joe Hockey, Eric Abetz". ABC. Australia. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
^ "Malcolm Turnbull's Cabinet reshuffle:Who's going where?". ABC. Australia. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
^ "Michaelia Cash's Office Tipped-Off Media About AFP Raids, And A Staffer Has Now Resigned". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^ "Michaelia Cash admits staffer told media about federal police raids on AWU offices; Labor calls for her head". Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ "Rebel Wilson's Lawyer Is Part Of The Court Case About Michaelia Cash's Office And The Union Raids". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^ "Michaelia Cash Will Be Forced To Hand Over Any Documents About Leaks Of AWU Police Raids". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
^ Karp, Paul (19 June 2018). "Taxpayers to foot legal bill for Michaelia Cash's union raid court case". the Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
^ Hannan, Ewin (21 November 2020). "ROC vows to kickstart AWU probe after court win". The Australian. Nationwide News Pty Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^ Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Senator Michaelia Cash will become Minister for Jobs and Innovation, charged with harnessing the policies of the government to create more jobs and job opportunities. Senator Cash will be a key part of the Government’s economic team working to deliver on our commitment of more jobs, more investment, and stronger economic growth.
^ "Jobs and innovation a good fit for Cash". The Australian. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^ "Michaelia Cash Could Be Forced To Release Report Into Work For The Dole Death". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
^ Sweeney, Lucy; Belot, Henry (23 August 2018). "Malcolm Turnbull faces fresh leadership challenge from Peter Dutton". ABC News (Australia).
^ "Appointment as Minister for Finance". Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
^ "Minister for Finance and Senate leadership". Prime Minister of Australia. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
^ "Second Morrison Ministry" (PDF). 30 March 2021.

External links[]

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Ross Lightfoot	Senator for Western Australia 2008–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Simon Birmingham	Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate 2020–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Christian Porter	Attorney-General of Australia 2021–present
Preceded by Christian Porter	Minister for Industrial Relations 2021–present
Preceded by Herself as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education	Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business 2019–2021	Succeeded by Stuart Robert as Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business
Preceded by Craig Laundy as Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation	Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education 2018–2019	Succeeded by Herself as Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Preceded by Herself as Minister for Employment	Minister for Jobs and Innovation 2017–2018	Succeeded by Kelly O'Dwyer as Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations
Preceded by Arthur Sinodinos as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science	Minister for Jobs and Innovation 2017–2018
Preceded by Eric Abetz	Minister for Employment 2015–2017	Succeeded by Herself as Minister for Jobs and Innovation
Preceded by Eric Abetz	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Public Service 2015–2017	Succeeded by Kelly O'Dwyer
Preceded by Tony Abbott	Minister for Women 2015–2017	Succeeded by Kelly O'Dwyer
Preceded by Julie Collins as Minister for the Status of Women	Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women 2013–2015	Succeeded by Herself as Minister for Women
Preceded by Jason Clare as Minister for Home Affairs	Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection 2013–2015	Succeeded by Portfolio abolished
Preceded by Kate Lundy as Minister for Multicultural Affairs		Succeeded by Portfolio abolished

[1] Cash served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, while Prime Minister Abbott held the portfolio of Minister for Women, until 21 September 2015 following a leadership spill, when Prime Minister Turnbull appointed Cash as Minister for Women.

[aph-2] "Senator Michaelia Cash". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

[3] "Hon Samuel (George) Ernest Cash". Members’ biographical register. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

[4] Spagnolo, Joe (20 December 2015). "WA MP Michaelia Cash inspired by sister Joanna who lost battle with cancer". PerthNow. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

[cadzow-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cadzow, Jane (31 July 2021). "Cat-loving, coffee-swilling, karaoke-singing Thatcher fan: meet Attorney-General Michaelia Cash". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2021.

[6] Clark, Andrew (8 January 2016). "It will take the strength of a Margaret Thatcher-like figure to reform IR". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 4 March 2018.

[7] Jauk, Daniel (6 October 2015). "Curtin graduate appointed Minister for Women and Minister for Employment". Curtin University. Retrieved 4 March 2018.

[8] Williams, Azadeh (5 April 2016). "Smashing the Glass Ceiling: Senator Michaelia Cash's Journey From Lawyer to Workplace Reformer". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 4 March 2018.

[9] "Senator Michaelia Cash's Journey From Lawyer to Workplace Reformer". Legal Insight. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

[10] "Malcolm Turnbull announces new Cabinet in 'process of renewal', drops Joe Hockey, Eric Abetz". ABC. Australia. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.

[11] "Malcolm Turnbull's Cabinet reshuffle:Who's going where?". ABC. Australia. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.

[12] "Michaelia Cash's Office Tipped-Off Media About AFP Raids, And A Staffer Has Now Resigned". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

[13] "Michaelia Cash admits staffer told media about federal police raids on AWU offices; Labor calls for her head". Retrieved 5 March 2018.

[14] "Rebel Wilson's Lawyer Is Part Of The Court Case About Michaelia Cash's Office And The Union Raids". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

[15] "Michaelia Cash Will Be Forced To Hand Over Any Documents About Leaks Of AWU Police Raids". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

[16] Karp, Paul (19 June 2018). "Taxpayers to foot legal bill for Michaelia Cash's union raid court case". the Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2018.

[17] Hannan, Ewin (21 November 2020). "ROC vows to kickstart AWU probe after court win". The Australian. Nationwide News Pty Ltd. Retrieved 3 April 2021.

[Turnbull2nd-4thAR-18] Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Senator Michaelia Cash will become Minister for Jobs and Innovation, charged with harnessing the policies of the government to create more jobs and job opportunities. Senator Cash will be a key part of the Government’s economic team working to deliver on our commitment of more jobs, more investment, and stronger economic growth.

[19] "Jobs and innovation a good fit for Cash". The Australian. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

[20] "Michaelia Cash Could Be Forced To Release Report Into Work For The Dole Death". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 19 April 2018.

[abc23-21] Sweeney, Lucy; Belot, Henry (23 August 2018). "Malcolm Turnbull faces fresh leadership challenge from Peter Dutton". ABC News (Australia).

[22] "Appointment as Minister for Finance". Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

[23] "Minister for Finance and Senate leadership". Prime Minister of Australia. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

[24] "Second Morrison Ministry" (PDF). 30 March 2021.

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show v t (Rudd 2←) Abbott Ministry (→ Turnbull 1)
Prime Minister: Tony Abbott
Cabinet	Eric Abetz Kevin Andrews Bruce Billson Julie Bishop George Brandis Mathias Cormann Peter Dutton Joe Hockey Greg Hunt Barnaby Joyce Sussan Ley Ian Macfarlane Scott Morrison Christopher Pyne Andrew Robb Nigel Scullion Warren Truss Malcolm Turnbull
Outer Ministry	Simon Birmingham Jamie Briggs Michaelia Cash Mitch Fifield Josh Frydenberg Luke Hartsuyker Michael Keenan Fiona Nash Marise Payne Stuart Robert Michael Ronaldson
Parliamentary Secretaries	Karen Andrews Bob Baldwin Darren Chester Steven Ciobo Richard Colbeck Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Paul Fletcher Michael McCormack Kelly O'Dwyer Christian Porter Scott Ryan Alan Tudge
Dismissed/resigned	David Johnston Arthur Sinodinos Brett Mason

show v t (Abbott ←) First Turnbull Ministry (→ Turnbull 2)
Prime Minister: Malcolm Turnbull
Cabinet	Simon Birmingham Julie Bishop George Brandis Michaelia Cash Darren Chester Steven Ciobo Mathias Cormann Peter Dutton Mitch Fifield Josh Frydenberg Greg Hunt Barnaby Joyce Sussan Ley Scott Morrison Fiona Nash Kelly O'Dwyer Marise Payne Christian Porter Christopher Pyne Arthur Sinodinos Nigel Scullion
Outer Ministry	Matt Canavan Richard Colbeck Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Paul Fletcher Michael Keenan Scott Ryan Dan Tehan Alan Tudge
Assistant Ministers	Karen Andrews Alex Hawke Peter Hendy Craig Laundy Michael McCormack James McGrath Keith Pitt Jane Prentice Anne Ruston Angus Taylor Ken Wyatt
Dismissed/resigned/lost seat	Jamie Briggs Mal Brough Luke Hartsuyker Andrew Robb Stuart Robert Wyatt Roy Warren Truss

show v t (Turnbull 1←) Second Turnbull Ministry (→ Morrison 1)
Prime Minister: Malcolm Turnbull
Cabinet	Michael McCormack (Deputy) Simon Birmingham Julie Bishop Matt Canavan Josh Frydenberg David Littleproud Bridget McKenzie John McVeigh Scott Morrison Kelly O'Dwyer Marise Payne Christian Porter Christopher Pyne Nigel Scullion Dan Tehan
Outer Ministry	Darren Chester Paul Fletcher Craig Laundy Ken Wyatt
Assistant Ministers	Karen Andrews David Coleman Mark Coulton David Gillespie Alex Hawke Keith Pitt Jane Prentice Melissa Price Anne Ruston
Resigned	George Brandis Michaelia Cash Steven Ciobo Mathias Cormann Damian Drum Peter Dutton Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Mitch Fifield Luke Hartsuyker Greg Hunt Michael Keenan Sussan Ley Barnaby Joyce Fiona Nash James McGrath Scott Ryan Zed Seselja Arthur Sinodinos Michael Sukkar Angus Taylor Alan Tudge

show v t (Turnbull 2←) First Morrison Ministry (→ Morrison 2)
Prime Minister: Scott Morrison
Cabinet	Michael McCormack (Deputy) Karen Andrews Simon Birmingham Matt Canavan Michaelia Cash Mathias Cormann Peter Dutton Mitch Fifield Paul Fletcher Josh Frydenberg Greg Hunt David Littleproud Bridget McKenzie Kelly O'Dwyer Marise Payne Christian Porter Melissa Price Christopher Pyne Linda Reynolds Nigel Scullion Dan Tehan Angus Taylor
Outer Ministry	Darren Chester David Coleman Alex Hawke Michael Keenan Stuart Robert Alan Tudge Ken Wyatt
Assistant Ministers	Andrew Broad Scott Buchholz Richard Colbeck Mark Coulton David Fawcett Sarah Henderson Steve Irons Michelle Landry Sussan Ley Anne Ruston Zed Seselja
Resigned	Steven Ciobo

show v t (Morrison 1←) Second Morrison Ministry
Prime Minister: Scott Morrison
Cabinet	Michael McCormack (Deputy) Karen Andrews Simon Birmingham Michaelia Cash Darren Chester Peter Dutton Paul Fletcher Josh Frydenberg Greg Hunt Sussan Ley David Littleproud Marise Payne Keith Pitt Christian Porter Melissa Price Linda Reynolds Stuart Robert Anne Ruston Angus Taylor Dan Tehan Alan Tudge Ken Wyatt
Outer Ministry	Richard Colbeck Mark Coulton Andrew Gee Alex Hawke Jane Hume Zed Seselja Michael Sukkar
Assistant Ministers	Scott Buchholz David Coleman Jonathon Duniam Trevor Evans Andrew Hastie Kevin Hogan Luke Howarth Michelle Landry Nola Marino Ben Morton Amanda Stoker Jason Wood
Resigned	Matt Canavan Mathias Cormann Steve Irons Bridget McKenzie