Jaala Pulford

Jaala Pulford (born 14 February 1974) is an Australian politician. She has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 2006, representing Western Victoria Region.

Pulford was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council on 4 December 2014 following the election of the Andrews Labor Government.

Early life

Pulford grew up in Castlemaine and attended Bendigo Senior Secondary College.^[1]

She worked as an Organiser for the National Union of Workers Victorian Branch between 1994 and 2006.^[1]

Pulford has a Bachelor of Applied Management from University of Ballarat^[1] and has since completed a Masters of Public Policy at Deakin University.

Political career

Pulford has held a number of roles within the ALP, including State and National Conference Delegate, Junior Vice-President of the Victorian Branch, National Labor Women’s Network secretary and President of the ALP Women’s Policy Committee.^[1]

In November 2006, Pulford was elected, at the age of 32, as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Western Victoria Region.

As a member of the Brumby Government, she served as Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations (August 2007 – January 2010) and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development, Industry and Trade (January – November 2010).^[1]

Following the 2010 State Election, Pulford was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition (Legislative Council) and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development.^[1]

On 4 December 2014, Pulford was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council as part of the Labor Government led by Daniel Andrews.^[2]

Personal life

Pulford is married with a son. Her daughter Sinead died of cancer in 2014, aged 13.^[3]

References

External links

• www.jaalapulford.com.au