This is a list of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) holders of political offices in Australia. Currently and historically there are no known intersex parliamentarians, although Tony Briffa is known as the world's first openly intersex mayor and "first known intersex public office-bearer in the Western world", having served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay between 2009–2011 and Mayor between 2011–2012.
Federal parliament Name Image Party SeatTerm in Office NotesDon Dobie Member for Hughes26 November 196625 October 1969 Gay. Had a long-term relationship with George Burniston. Was subject to homophobic remarks in Parliament. Member for Cook25 October 19692 December 197213 December 197529 January 1996Neil Brown Member for Diamond Valley25 October 19692 December 1972Came out in 1996 as homosexual, accepted bisexual as a personal descriptor13 December 19755 March 1983Member for Menzies1 December 198425 February 1991Neal Blewett Member for Bonython10 December 197711 February 1994Came out in 2000Colin Hollis Member for Macarthur5 March 19831 December 1984 Member for Throsby1 December 19848 October 2001Bob Brown Senator for Tasmania1 July 199615 June 2012Brian Greig Senator for Western Australia1 July 199930 June 2005Penny Wong Senator for South Australia1 July 2002incumbentLouise Pratt Senator for Western Australia1 July 200830 June 20142 July 201630 June 2025Dean Smith Senator for Western Australia2 May 2012incumbentJanet Rice Senator for Victoria1 July 201419 April 2024Robert Simms Senator for South Australia22 September 20152 July 2016Trent Zimmerman Member for North Sydney5 December 201523 May 2022Trevor Evans Member for Brisbane2 July 201623 May 2022Julian Hill Member for Bruce2 July 2016incumbentTim Wilson Member for Goldstein2 July 201623 May 20223 May 2025incumbentKerryn Phelps Member for Wentworth20 October 201818 May 2019Angie Bell Member for Moncrieff18 May 2019incumbentNita Green Senator for Queensland1 July 2019incumbentStephen Bates Member for Brisbane28 May 20223 May 2025Emma Comer Member for Petrie3 May 2025incumbentJosh Dolega Senator for Tasmania3 May 2025incumbent
Tasmania Former: Bob Brown (Independent Green) – 1983–1993 Alison Standen (Labor) – 2018–2021 Historic firsts: Party leader: Bob Brown (Greens) – 1989–1993
New South Wales
Legislative Council Current: Penny Sharpe (Labor) – 2005 Chris Rath (Liberal) – 2022 Amanda Cohn (Greens) – 2023 Jacqui Munro (Liberal) – 2023
Former: Michael Yabsley (Liberal) – 1984–1994 [Came out: 2020] Paul O'Grady (Labor) – 1988–1996 [Came out: 1990] Michael Egan (Labor) – 1986–2005 [Came out: 1995] Helen Westwood (Labor) – 2007–2015 Don Harwin (Liberal) – 2011–2022 [Came out: 2014] Shayne Mallard (Liberal) – 2015–2023 Mark Pearson (Animal Justice) – 2015–2023
Legislative Assembly Current: Alex Greenwich (Independent) – 2012 Former: Michael Egan (Labor) – 1978–1984 Tony Doyle (Labor) – 1985–1994 [Came out: 1994] Bruce Notley-Smith (Liberal) – 2011–2019
Western Australia Legislative Council Current: Stephen Dawson (Labor) – 2013 Former: Giz Watson (Greens) – 1997–2013 Lynn MacLaren (Greens) – 2005, 2009–2017 Louise Pratt (Labor) – 2001–2007 Peter Foster (Labor) – 2021–2025
Legislative Assembly
Current Stuart Aubrey (Labor) – 2021 John Carey (Labor) – 2017 Former: Lisa Baker (Labor) – 2008–2025 John Hyde (Labor) – 2001–2013
Victoria Legislative Council
Current: Harriet Shing (Labor) – 2014 Joe McCracken (Liberal) – 2022 Aiv Puglielli (Greens) – 2022
Former: Andrew Olexander (Liberal) – 1999–2006
Legislative Assembly
Current: Steve Dimopoulos (Labor) – 2014 Gabrielle de Vietri (Greens) – 2022
South Australia
House of Assembly
Current: David Wilkins (Labor) – 2026 Jason Virgo (One Nation) – 2026
Legislative Council
Current: Ian Hunter (Labor) – 2006 Robert Simms (Greens) – 2021 Former: Don Dunstan (Labor) – 1953–1979 Kelly Vincent (Dignity) – 2010–2018 Historic Firsts: Premier: Don Dunstan (Labor) – 1967
Australian Capital Territory Current: Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2006 Chris Steel (Labor) – 2016 Suzanne Orr (Labor) – 2016 Laura Nuttall (Greens) – 2023 Former: Jonathan Davis (Greens) – 2020–2023 (resigned) Historic firsts: Government minister: Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2006 Chief Minister: Andrew Barr (Labor) – 2014
Northern Territory Current: Chansey Paech (Labor) – 2016
Officeholders: Leader of the Opposition: Jodeen Carney (Liberal) – (2005) Speaker of the Assembly: Chansey Paech (Labor) – (2020)
See also List of transgender politicians in Australia List of the first LGBT holders of political offices
References