About Michaelia

Senator Cash was elected to the Senate as a Liberal Senator for Western Australia in 2007. She commenced her term on 1 July 2008. She was re-elected as a Senator for Western Australia in 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Since entering public life Michaelia has held a number of Ministerial appointments. Michaelia was appointed to the Cabinet as the Minister for Employment; the Minister for Women and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minster for the Public Service on 21 September 2015. On 20 December 2017, Senator Cash was appointed the Minister for Jobs and Innovation. From 28 August 2018 to 29 March 2021, Senator Cash was the Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. On 29 March 2021, Senator Cash was appointed Attorney-General as well as the Minister for Industrial Relations. Michaelia was also the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. She held these positions until 23 May 2022.

From 18 September 2013 to 21 September 2015 she was the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women.

In September 2012, she was appointed Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.

In September 2010, she was appointed to the dual roles of the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women.

Prior to entering Parliament, Senator Cash was a senior lawyer at law firm Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) practicing employment and industrial law.

Senator Cash holds an Honours Degree in Law from the University of London and a Bachelor of Arts (Social Science) from Curtin University in Perth, graduating with a triple major in public relations, politics and journalism. In addition, she holds a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Western Australia.

See Michaelia’s speeches to Parliament here:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Search?display=true&Canned=true&speakerID=I0M

Parliamentary, Ministerial and Committee Service

Parliamentary Service

Elected to the Senate for Western Australia in 2007. Re-elected in 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Ministerial Appointments

  • Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
  • Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
  • Minister for Employment from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
  • Minister for Women from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
  • Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
  • Cabinet Minister from 21.9.2015.
  • Minister for Jobs and Innovation from 20.12.2017 to 28.8.2018.
  • Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.
  • Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business from 29.5.2019 to 30.3.2021.
  • Attorney-General from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.
  • Minister for Industrial Relations from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee Service

Senate Standing:

  • Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation (formerly Regulations and Ordinances) from 2.2.2010 to 7.2.2013.

Senate Select:

  • Men’s Health from 3.2.2009 to 12.5.2009;
  • Climate Policy from 17.3.2009 to 15.6.2009.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing:

  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations from 1.7.2008 to 14.5.2009;
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation from 14.5.2009 to 23.8.2011 (Deputy Chair from 2.2.2010 to 23.8.2011);
  • Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References from 14.5.2009 to 23.8.2011 (Chair from 2.2.2010 to 23.8.2011).

Joint Statutory:

  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 16.3.2012 to 5.8.2013.

Joint Standing:

  • Treaties from 1.7.2008 to 7.7.2011; Migration from 1.7.2011 to 5.8.2013.

Joint Select:

  • Christmas Island Tragedy from 3.3.2011 to 29.6.2011; Australia’s Immigration Detention Network from 22.6.2011 to 30.3.2012.