Stephanie Key

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Hon. Stephanie Key

Stephanie (Steph) Wendy Key, BA, JP, MP, Australian Politician is the former South Australian Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education, Minister for Youth, Minister for the Status of Women. She also represents the Electoral district of Ashford in the South Australian House of Assembly and is a member of the Australian Labor Party.

Steph was first elected to Parliament at the 1997 election for the electoral district of Hanson, and she immediately assumed Shadow portfolio responsibilities for Industrial Affairs, Youth Affairs and assisting in Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs. Changes in the Shadow Cabinet during 2000 saw Steph’s portfolio responsibilities change to Housing & Urban Development, Employment and Training, Local Government and Youth Affairs.

The 2002 election saw Steph re-elected to the Parliament to represent Ashford, the renamed seat of Hanson. The seat of Ashford incorporates a narrow strip of the inner western suburbs, roughly extending, from Edwardstown in the south to Cowandilla and Hilton in the north and Goodwood Road in the east across to Marion Road in the west.

Despite retaining her seat at the 2006 election with a swing of 12.4% increasing her margin to 16.1%, Key lost the portfolios of Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education, Minister for Youth, Minister for the Status of Women in a cabinet reshuffle. Key had previously lost the portfolios of Minister for Housing, and Minister for Social Justice, which she lost during the 2004 Cabinet Reshuffle.

Steph was born at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. She attended Largs Bay Primary School, Port Adelaide Girls Technical High School, Marryatville Adult Education School. She attended Flinders University completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics and Sociology. During her time at Flinders University she was elected as the first woman General Secretary of the Flinders University Students Association.

Prior to entering Parliament, Steph worked in a diverse range of positions, from cleaner and shop assistant to Industrial Officer with the Transport Workers Union, the Australian Council of Trades Unions (ACTU) and the United Trades and Labour Council (UTLC).

Steph also spent several years as Director of the Working Women’s Centre. She has also served on a number of important Boards, including a period of 12 years as a member of the Board of Directors for the South Australian Housing Trust.

In 2006, Steph was granted the title of The Honourable for life, by South Australian Governor, Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen on advice from the Premier, Mike Rann.