Virginia Judge - Political Career

Political Career

Judge was elected to Strathfield Council in 1995 and served until 2004. Almost immediately after being elected, she was accused of speaking and voting against an application for a development approval without declaring a conflict of interest, as her real estate agency, and allegedly herself, stood to benefit if it was approved. This charge was dismissed by the Department of Local Government. She later found employment, working for Eddie Obeid when he was the Minister for Fisheries. She was Mayor from 2001 to 2003 when she entered the NSW Parliament.

Judge was elected as member for Strathfield in 2003, representing Labor. Although the seat has traditionally been held by the Liberal Party of Australia, she won it with a 15% majority.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees appointed Judge Fair Trading Minister, and he gave Judge responsibility for citizenship and she assisted the Minister for the Arts (Premier Nathan Rees). Following the resignation of the then NSW Premier Nathan Rees, the new Premier Kristina Keneally, re-appointed Judge as Fair Trading Minister, and also appointed Judge the Minister for the Arts in December 2009.

At the March 2011 general election, Judge was defeated with a swing of 16.6% to the Liberal's Charles Casuscelli, who won 54.4% of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.