Quick Facts
Biography
Meegan Fitzharris (born 1972) is an elected Member for the Molonglo electorate in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, as of 15 January 2015. She won a countback to fill the Legislative Assembly seat vacated by former Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. She is also the Minister for Transport and Municipal Services, Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research and Assistant Minister for Health.
Life and career
Meegan Fitzharris was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1972. She was educated at the University of Otago and the University of Auckland, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters in International Development.
Fitzharris moved to Australia in 1998. She has three children.
Before commencing a political career, Fitzharris worked for New South Wales Police, Australian Federal Police and the Attorney-General's Department.
Politics
2012 General Election
Fitzharris was an Australian Labor Party candidate in the Australian Capital Territory general election, 2012. When she did not win a seat, she became the chief of staff and senior adviser for then Minister, later Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher resigned from the Assembly on 23 December 2014 to pursue a seat in the Australian Senate, ahead of Gallagher's resignation, media predicated that Fitzharris would be the most likely candidate to take Gallagher's Assembly seat.
On 15 January 2015, ACT Electoral Commissioner Phil Green announced Fitzharris had been elected as the new member for Molonglo in the Legislative Assembly, after holding a countback of the 2012 Legislative Assembly election.