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Elizabeth Lee (politician)

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This article is about the Australian politician. For the American politician, see Liz Lee (politician).
Elizabeth Lee
MLA
Lee in 2016
Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Capital Territory
In office
27 October 2020 – 31 October 2024
DeputyGiulia Jones
Jeremy Hanson
Leanne Castley
Preceded byAlistair Coe
Succeeded byLeanne Castley
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for Kurrajong
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 October 2016
Personal details
Born
Lee Seulgi

(1979-08-30) 30 August 1979 (age 45)
Gwangju, South Korea
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal
Alma materAustralian National University
Elizabeth Lee
Hangul
이슬기[1]
Revised RomanizationLee Seul-gi
McCune–ReischauerLee Sŭlki

Elizabeth Lee[a] (born 30 August 1979) is an Australian politician. She has been a member of the Liberal Party and has served in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Kurrajong. Before entering the ACT Legislative Assembly, Lee had a successful career as a lawyer in the private sector. Later, she became a lecturer at the Australian National University and University of Canberra.[2]

Lee migrated to Australia from Korea at the age of seven. Upon turning 18, she moved to Canberra to pursue studies in Law and Asian Studies at The Australian National University.[2]

On 27 October 2020, Lee was elected Leader of the Canberra Liberals and became Leader of the Opposition of the Australian Capital Territory, leading them to the 2024 election, where they were defeated. She was replaced as Leader by Leanne Castley in the aftermath of the election.[3](subscription required)[4] Lee is the first Asian Australian leader of a state or territory opposition.

Early life

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She received Bachelors of Law and Asian Studies, a Graduate Diploma in legal practice, and a Masters of Law from the Australian National University, and worked as a law lecturer and solicitor.

Political career

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Lee ran unsuccessfully for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Molonglo electorate in 2012, and for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Fraser in 2013, both times representing the Liberal Party. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2016 representing the new seat of Kurrajong.

In Alistair Coe's shadow ministry, Lee was made Shadow Minister for the Environment and Shadow Minister for Disability in December 2016.[5](subscription required) In February 2018 following the death of Steve Doszpot, the Education portfolio was added to Lee's responsibilities.[6]

Following the Liberal Party's defeat at the 2020 election, Lee was elected on 27 October 2020 to replace Coe as party leader and Leader of the Opposition.[7] She is the first East Asian-Australian to lead a major political party in Australia.[8](subscription required)

In 2021, Lee introduced Australian-first stealthing laws, which criminalised the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex. She also released an exposure draft for legislation that would mean harsher penalties for perpetrators of domestic violence.[9]

Following a Shadow Cabinet reshuffle on 7 December 2023, Lee became Shadow Minister for Education alongside her existing shadow portfolio responsibilities Housing Affordability and Choice. Climate Action, Energy and Emissions Reduction. Economic Development, Tourism and Major Projects, as well as Shadow Treasurer.[10](subscription required)

During campaigning for the 2024 election, Lee made headlines when she was filmed flicking her middle finger at a journalist after an argument with a journalist.[11](subscription required)[12][13]

After leading the Liberals to their seventh consecutive loss at the 2024 election. By tradition, the Liberal party leadership is spilt after election losses. She would lose her reelection bid after her own deputy Leanne Castley ran against her. Castley announced that she had run against Lee due to concerns about trying to form government with the Greens in the aftermath of the election.[4]

Political positions

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Voice to Parliament Referendum

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Lee voted Yes on the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, supporting the "Libs for Yes" campaign organised by former Liberal Chief Minister Kate Carnell.[14]

Territory rights

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Lee is in support of 'territory rights' for the ACT.[15] In 2018, Lee was one of four Liberals who voted alongside Labor to rebuke federal senators for voting against the rights of the territory.[16] In a 2023 letter written by Lee on behalf of the Canberra Liberals, Lee stated that her party supports territory rights.[15]

Personal life

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Lee was born in Gwangju, South Korea and migrated to Australia in 1986 when she was seven years old. She grew up in Western Sydney and moved to Canberra at 18 to study law and Asian Studies at the Australian National University.[17] She has lived and worked in inner Canberra since 1998.

Lee lives in the inner south with her partner, Nathan, and 2 daughters.[citation needed]

Notes

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  1. ^ Korean: 이슬기, romanized: Lee Seulgi, pronounced [isʰɯɭɡi]


References

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  1. ^ Da-Seul, Lee (19 October 2020). "ACT 엘리자베스 리(이슬기) 의원 재선 확정" [ACT Elizabeth Lee (Lee Seul-gi) re-election confirmed]. TOP Digital (in Korean). Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Candidate statements - Kurrajong". elections.act.gov.au. Elizabeth LEE (Canberra Liberals). Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  3. ^ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (27 October 2020). "Elizabeth Lee elected Canberra Liberals' new leader". Canberra Times. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b Jean, Peter (31 October 2024). "Leanne Castley elected leader of the Canberra Liberals following party's ACT election loss". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  5. ^ Knaus, Christopher (2 November 2016). "Alistair Coe keeps transport, Jeremy Hanson keeps senior spot in shadow ACT ministry". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  6. ^ Bushnell, Ian (5 February 2018). "Coe reshuffles shadow ministry after loss of Steve Doszpot". Riotact. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Elizabeth Lee named ACT Opposition Leader after Alistair Coe chooses not to contest Canberra Liberal leadership". ABC News. 27 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ Lo, Jieh-Yung (16 November 2020). "Why Elizabeth Lee's rise means so much to Asian Australians like me". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Elizabeth Lee marks one year as Canberra Liberals Leader". canberraliberals.org.au (Press release). 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  10. ^ Bladen, Lucy (7 December 2023). "Hanson dumped from shadow cabinet". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  11. ^ Shteyman, Jacob (17 October 2024). "Flipped off: 'misogyny' behind Lib's finger to journo". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
  12. ^ Petrovic, Victor (16 October 2024). "Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee makes rude gesture at journalist following tense press conference exchange". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ Jackson, Blair (16 October 2024). "Canberra Liberals leader flips off reporter three days out from election day". NewsWire. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024 – via news.com.au.
  14. ^ Frost, Harry (27 August 2023). "Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee will vote Yes in the Voice referendum, but her party is a different story". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b Bladen, Lucy (21 September 2023). "Andrew Barr urges all MLAs to sign letter to express 'collective concern' at federal interventions". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  16. ^ White, Daniella (21 January 2021). "Canberra Liberals under pressure to lobby for euthanasia rights". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  17. ^ Jervis-Bardy, Dan (2 July 2021) [30 October 2020]. "Elizabeth Lee on leadership, racism and fighting for her daughter's future". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
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Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2020–present 		Incumbent
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