Ella Haddad

Australian politician (born 1978)

Ella Haddad MP

Member of the Tasmanian Parliament for Clark
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 September 2018
Member of the Tasmanian Parliament for Denison
In office 3 March 2018 – 28 September 2018

Personal details
Political party	Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Occupation	politician
Website	www.ellahaddad.com

Eloise Rafia "Ella" Haddad is an Australian politician. She was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the Labor Party in the Division of Denison at the 2018 state election, reelected at the 2021 Tasmanian state election and is currently the member for Clark after Denison was renamed.^[1]

Early life and education

Haddad graduated with degrees in arts and law from the University of Tasmania before working in the office of the federal member for Denison, Duncan Kerr SC MP. Haddad also worked for several Labor members of the Tasmanian Parliament as a legal and policy adviser. These included roles in the offices of former Attorneys-General of Tasmania, Judy Jackson and her successor, Steve Kons, Lisa Singh when she was a member of the Tasmanian Parliament, and Rebecca White MP. She has served as Secretary of the Tasmanian Branch of the International Commission of Jurists, including participating in international conferences. Haddad has also served as President of the Tasmanian branch of the Fabian Society, a think tank researching progressive political ideas and public policy reform. Haddad commenced further study as a postgraduate student at the University of Tasmania.^[2]

Haddad served on the boards of several Tasmanian community organisations over many years including the Tasmanian Council of Social Services (TasCOSS), Women's Health Tasmania (then Hobart Women's Health Centre), TasCAHRD, TasDeaf and Ten Lives Cat Centre (then the Hobart Cat Centre).^[3]

Political career (2018–present)

At the 2018 Tasmanian state election, Haddad was elected to the seat of Denison, alongside Scott Bacon with a swing to the Tasmanian Labor Party in the seat of 8.1%.^[4] Following the renaming of the seat to Clark, Haddad recontested the 2021 Tasmanian state election and held her seat with a 4.4% swing. In the new opposition, Haddad is Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shadow Minister for Corrections, Shadow Minister for Housing, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Shadow Minister for Equality^[5]

Since Haddad entered Parliament she has been known to champion progressive policy, with a focus on law reform,^[6] housing^[7]^[8] and human rights.^[9]^[10]^[11]

As Shadow-Attorney General, Haddad has drafted legislation to improve recognition and respect of transgender rights in the State, including removing laws that forced transgender Tasmanians to undergo invasive reassignment surgery before being able to have the gender marker on their birth certificate.^[12]^[13]

In February 2024, Haddad was shortlisted for the 2023 McKinnon Prize in the category of State and Territory Political Leader of the Year.^[14]

Haddad was reelected in the 2024 Tasmanian election, topping the poll and taking on the health portfolio in Dean Winter's ministry.^[15]

References

^ Green, Antony (2018). "Denison". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
^ "Ella Haddad" (PDF). Faculty of Law Alumni. University of Tasmania. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
^ "Parliament of Tasmania - Ella Haddad MP Inaugural Speech". Faculty of Law Alumni. Tasmanian Parliament. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
^ Antony Green (March 2018). "Denison - TAS Election 2018". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ "People: Ella Haddad". Tasmanian Labor Party. April 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ "Review of the Tasmania Law Reform Institute" (PDF). Faculty of Law Alumni. University of Adelaide. June 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Sandy Powell (13 October 2022). "MP Ella Haddad says Tasmanians on housing brink amid rising water". The Advocate. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Blair Richards (12 May 2023). "Samantha's application for public housing is one of 4603 currently on the Tasmanian waiting list". The Mercury. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Rhiana Whitson (21 November 2018). "Tasmania poised to become first state to have gender optional on birth certificates". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Matthew Denham (25 April 2023). "Tasmanian Labor pledges to extend hate laws to transphobia and homophobia". The Australian. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Alexandra Humphries (2 April 2018). "Ella Haddad". The Mercury. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Rhiana Whitson (21 November 2018). "Tasmania poised to become first state to have gender optional on birth certificates". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Martine Delany (22 November 2018). "Talking Point: Taking a stand against myths and misunderstandings". The Mercury. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
^ Charlie Moore, Anil Lambert, Horton Advisory (8 February 2024). "New McKinnon Prize shortlist reflects changing face of Australian political leadership". McKinnon Prize. Retrieved 20 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "2024 State Election: Division of Clark results". Tasmanian Electoral Commission. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.