Sue Bradford
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The New Zealand politician Sue Bradford (born 1952) serves as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party.
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[edit] Early life
Sue Bradford graduated from the University of Auckland in History and Political Studies, and later obtained a MA in Chinese. Furthering her academic education she undertook postgraduate study at the University of Canterbury where she received a diploma in journalism.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Bradford had a high profile as an activist against various New Right style social and economic reforms pursued by the governments of the day. Accordingly, she became something of a bête noire amongst supporters of the right and centre-right in New Zealand.
[edit] Member of Parliament
| Parliament | Electorate | List position | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46th: 1999-2002 | List | 4 | Greens |
| 47th: 2002-2005 | List | 3 | Greens |
| 48th: 2005- | List | 3 → 2 | Greens |
As a member of the Green Party, Bradford first won election to the Parliament as a list MP in the 1999 elections. She had joined the Green Party in 1990, and had contested the 1998 Auckland mayoral election as the Green candidate. Before joining the Greens, she worked actively in the NewLabour Party, and served as its president from 1989 to 1990.
As of 2005 Bradford functions as the Green Party spokesperson on ACC, Agriculture, Buy Kiwi-Made, Community and Voluntary Sector, Community Economic Development, Gambling, Housing, Industrial Relations, Internal Affairs, Mental Health, National Library and Archives, Racing, Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Small Business and Social Development.
The New Zealand Herald selected Bradford as Backbencher of the Year for 2000.
[edit] Child Discipline Bill
In 2005, a parliamentary ballot allowed the discussion of Bradford's member's bill, the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill 2005. The Bill proposed amending Section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961 to remove the legal defence of "reasonable force" for parents prosecuted for assault on their children. The Bill passed the select committee stage and its second parliamentary reading with a huge majority, and became law after it passed its third reading on 16 May 2007[1] The Bill occasioned widespread debate, and a movement led by Family First New Zealand[2] has started a petition for a Citizens' Initiated Referendum to take place on the issue.[3]
In one reaction to the Bill, a person posting on the "CYFSWatch" website threatened Bradford with assassination.[4]
- See also: New Zealand blogosphere#CYFS Watch
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Sue Bradford bio (Green Party website)
- Sue Bradford bio (NZ Parliament website)
- Sue Bradford. Parliament. Retrieved on 2006-08-15.
- The year in politics: The year of living cautiously. NZ Herald. Retrieved on 2006-08-15.
- The Holmes Interview: Sue Bradford - a feisty battler. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2007-03-04
