About Katy

Katy is the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory.  She was elected to the position in May 2011, after the resignation of her friend and mentor, former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.

She was elected as the leader of the ACT Labor party, unopposed, by her colleagues, and voted Chief Minister by the Legislative Assembly. Katy was sworn in on Monday 16 May 2011.

Katy Gallagher was elected to the Legislative Assembly as a Labor Member for Molonglo in November 2001, and joined the Stanhope Ministry in December 2002. She is also the Minister for Health and Minister for  Territory and Municipal Services.

As the Minister for Health, Katy oversees the modernisation of Canberra’s health system. This $1 billion plus project involves a complete rebuild of the ACT’s health and hospital system – ensuring Canberra is ready for the future. As Treasurer she helped steer the ACT through the global financial crisis, delivering record levels of capital works in 2009-10 which has supported jobs and economic activity through the worst of the slow down. In her role as Minister for Territory and Municipal Services she is working to ensure that the day-to-day services are maintained and that community needs are responded to as Canberra grows.  This growth means there is a need to increase services such as public transport, waste collection and recycling, city places, parks and recreation areas and libraries, to continue to deliver high quality services to the community.

Katy also held previous roles in the ACT Government including Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support, Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women. She oversaw the review and reinvigoration of child protection services for the ACT’s children and young people.

Prior to her election, Katy worked for five years for the Community and Public Sector Union as an Industrial Organiser for Commonwealth public servants. Her career began in the community sector working for People First ACT, an organisation providing advocacy and support to individuals with an intellectual disability. Katy has also been a project worker for Woden Community Service working with children with disabilities.

Katy has strong connections to Canberra having grown up in the Weston Creek area, attending Duffy Primary School, Melrose High and Stirling College before undertaking a degree at the Australian National University. She lives in north Canberra with her partner and children.

Read more about Katy on her blog   . . .