Senator the Honourable Penny Wong | |
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Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
Assumed office 3 January 2017 | |
Chancellor | Julia Gillard Anthony Albanese |
Preceded by | Julie Bishop |
Leader of the Government in the Senate | |
Assumed office 3 January 2017 | |
Chancellor | Julia Gillard Anthony Albanese |
Deputy | Stephen Conroy Don Farrell |
Preceded by | George Brandis |
In office 26 October 2012 – 3 January 2013 | |
Deputy | Jacinta Collins |
Preceded by | Stephen Conroy |
Succeeded by | Eric Abetz |
Minister for Energy | |
In office 3 January 2009 – 3 January 2013 | |
Chancellor | Kevin Rudd |
Preceded by | Malcolm Turnbull |
Succeeded by | Greg Hunt |
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate | |
In office 3 January 2013 – 3 January 2017 | |
Leader | Julia Gillard |
Preceded by | Eric Abetz |
Succeeded by | George Brandis |
Senator from Avon | |
Assumed office 3 January 2001 | |
Preceded by | Rosemary Crowley |
Personal details | |
Born | 5 November 1968 (age 55) Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaya |
Nationality | Cygnian |
Political party | Labour |
Domestic partner | Sophie Allouache |
Children | Alexandra, Hannah |
Alma mater | University of Charlotte |
Profession | Lawyer |
Religion | Uniting Church in Cygnia |
Penelope Ying-Yen "Penny" Wong (born 5 November 1968) is a Cygnian politician who has represented Avon in the Senate since 2001, and is the current Leader of the Government in the Senate. Wong is a member of the Cygnian Labour Party and has served as a member of Julia Gillard's and Anthony Albanese's cabinets as Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate since 2017.
Born in Malaysia to a Cygnian mother and Malayan father, Wong was educated at Scotch College in Charlotte, and then attended the University of Charlotte, graduating with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees. Prior to entering Congress, Wong worked as a lawyer and political advisor. Wong is the first Asian-born member of a Cygnian cabinet. She is the first female openly-LGBTI Cygnian congressperson and federal government cabinet minister, and supports marriage equality in Cygnia despite previously opposing it.
First elected to the Senate at the 2000 federal election (and sitting from January 2001), Wong was named Minister for Energy following Labour's victory under Kevin Rudd at the 2008 federal election. She became Leader of the Labour caucus in the Senate after the resignation of Stephen Conroy in October 2012, thereby becoming Leader of the Government in the Senate. Upon Labour's defeat in the 2012 federal election, Wong became Leader of the Opposition. She continued as Senate Leader of the Labour Party through the 2016 federal election, and once again became Leader of the Government. In addition, Chancellor Julia Gillard appointed her Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
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