Zoe Lee Bettison (born 19 April 1973)[1] is an Australian politician representing the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Ramsay for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since the 2012 Ramsay by-election.[2]

Zoe Bettison
Minister for Tourism
Assumed office
24 March 2022
PremierPeter Malinauskas
Preceded bySteven Marshall (split from Premier's portfolio)
Minister for Multicultural Affairs
Assumed office
24 March 2022
PremierPeter Malinauskas
Preceded byPosition created
Member of the South Australian Parliament
for Ramsay
Assumed office
11 February 2012
Preceded byMike Rann
Personal details
Born (1973-04-19) 19 April 1973 (age 51)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party (SA)
Alma materFlinders University, University of Adelaide
OccupationGovernment Relations Manager
Websitewww.zoebettison.com.au

Bettison has served as the Minister for Tourism and Minister for Multicultural Affairs in the Malinauskas ministry since March 2022. She has previously served in other ministerial roles in the Weatherill ministry between 2014 and 2018.

Background

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Bettison had previously held positions with Great Southern Rail, and within the Australian Labor Party.[2] Bettison is linked with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA).[3]

Political career

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Bettison is aligned with Labor's Right faction.[4]

The 2012 Ramsay by-election was held after the resignation of Labor incumbent and former Premier Mike Rann. Bettison easily retained the seat. She was re-elected with an increased margin at the 2014 election. In March 2014 Bettison became Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Volunteers in the Weatherill Labor cabinet. Between 2014 and the 2018 state election Bettison has also served as the minister with responsibility for a range of portfolios, including communities and social inclusion, social housing, the status of women, ageing, multicultural affairs, youth, volunteers.[5]

After Labor won the 2022 election, Bettison was appointed as Minister for Tourism and Minister for Cultural Affairs in the Malinauskas ministry.[6]

On 2 September 2022, as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Bettison said that there would be a Parliamentary inquiry into "neo-Nazi symbols, the activities of extremist groups, discrimination faced by targeted groups and the prohibition on symbols in other states". This was partly prompted by the activities of a group of neo-Nazis who had posted photographs of themselves giving fascist salutes outside the Adelaide Holocaust Museum, and concerns had been raised about the activities of groups such as the National Socialist Network in South Australia.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Birth notices". The Advertiser. 26 April 1973.
  2. ^ a b "2012 Ramsay by-election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  3. ^ Daniel Wills (10 August 2011). "Jobs for the girls in looming Labor reshuffle". The Advertiser. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. ^ Daniel Wills (30 October 2011). "ALP hopefuls will be listening to communities". The Advertiser. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. ^ Cabinet of South Australia: Premier.sa.gov.au
  6. ^ "New South Australian cabinet sworn in, with independent Geoff Brock making surprise comeback". ABC News. 24 March 2022.
  7. ^ Katsaras, Jason (2 September 2022). "Neo-Nazis prompt SA parliamentary inquiry". InDaily. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Veterans' Affairs
2014
Succeeded by
Minister for Ageing
2014–2018
Succeeded byas Minister for Human Services
Preceded by Minister for Multicultural Affairs
2014–2018
Preceded by Minister for Social Housing
Minister for Youth
Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion
Minister for Volunteers

2014–2018
Preceded byas Premier of South Australia Minister for Tourism
2022–present
Incumbent
New title Minister for Multicultural Affairs
2022–present
Parliament of South Australia
Preceded by Member for Ramsay
2012–present
Incumbent