Karen Struthers (born 19 February 1963) is an Australian politician who served in the

Legislative Assembly of Queensland The Legislative Assembly of Queensland is the sole chamber of the unicameral Parliament of Queensland established under the Constitution of Queensland. Elections are held every four years and are done by full preferential voting. The Assembl ...

from 1998 to 2012.

Early life and career

Before she was elected Struthers was an Assistant Director of the Queensland Council of Social Service.

Member of parliament

She first entered Parliament at the 1998 election, winning the seat of Archerfield after the retirement of sitting member

Len Ardill Leonard Arthur Ardill (15 March 1931 – 4 April 2014) was an Australian state politician, representing the Labor. Following time as an Alderman in the Brisbane City Council, including serving as the Vice Mayor, Ardill was elected in 1986 ...

. Archerfield was abolished in a redistribution ahead of the 2001 state election, and Struthers followed most of her constituents into the new seat of Algester, which she held until her defeat in the

2012 election This national electoral calendar for 2012 lists the national/ federal elections held in 2012 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included. January *3–4 January: ...

Beattie Ministry

She was promoted to the front bench on 12 February 2004 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier (Multicultural Affairs) and Minister for Trade. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial Relations on 28 July 2005 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health on 13 September 2006.

Bligh Ministry

In March 2009, she was promoted to the Cabinet as Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women. Struthers was one of several Labor MPs in previously safe seats who were swept out in the massive Liberal National landslide of 2012, losing to LNP challenger

Anthony Shorten Anthony Shorten (born 12 June 1969) is a former Australian Liberal National politician and a former Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He currently is a community advocate for the Logan region. In October 2023 he became a candidate ...

on a swing of over 18 percent—enough to turn the seat from safe Labor to safe LNP in one stroke. In a measure of the backlash against Labor that year, Struthers had seen off a challenge from Shorten in 2009, taking 59 percent of the two-party vote.

Personal life

She has one son.

References

1963 births Living people Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Queensland 21st-century Australian politicians 21st-century Australian women politicians Women members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly {{Australia-Labor-Queensland-MP-stub