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Senator the Honourable
Amanda Stoker
Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General
Incumbent
Assumed office
22 December 2020
Senator for Queensland
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 March 2018
Preceded byGeorge Brandis
Personal details
Born
Amanda Jane Fell

(1982-10-30) 30 October 1982 (age 42)
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLiberal National Party
Other political
affiliations		Liberal Party
Spouse
Adam Stoker
​
(m. 2005)​
Children3
ResidenceAuchenflower, Queensland
EducationHurlstone Agricultural High School
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
ProfessionBarrister
Liberal Party factionConservative
IdeologySocially & Fiscally Conservative
ReligionChristian: Anglican
WebsiteParliamentary website

Amanda Jane Stoker (born 30 October 1982) is an Australian politician who became a Senator for Queensland in 2018. She is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) and sits with the Liberal Party in federal parliament. She was appointed to the Senate after the retirement of George Brandis. Stoker is currently in the Ministerial portfolios of Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, Assistant Minister for Industrial Relations and Assistant Minister for Women.[1]

Early life and education

Stoker was born in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool to working-class parents, Mark and Cornelia Ingrid Fell. Her father was born in Australia and her mother in Sweden.[2] She grew up on the outer-southern suburbs of Sydney in Campbelltown.[3] In her first speech she explained "My dad is a plumber, drainer, gas fitter. He had his own small business. My mum worked in a shop as a retail assistant."[4] She completed her HSC at Hurlstone Agricultural High School before studying arts and law at Sydney University, graduating with first-class honours.[5]

Stoker began her career as a clerk and solicitor in Brisbane with Minter Ellison.[1][6] She went on to serve as a Commonwealth prosecutor, as well as a judge's associate to Philip McMurdo in the Supreme Court of Queensland, and to Ian Callinan in the High Court of Australia.[7]

During her legal career, Stoker had a particular interest in administrative law and statutory interpretation.[6]

Prior to her appointment to the Senate, Stoker was a member of Level Twenty-Seven Chambers and a sessional academic at Central Queensland University.[6] She was vice-president of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland from 2016 to 2018.[8][9]

From 2014 to 2018, Stoker was a director at the non-profit,[9] Brisbane-based conservative "think tank", the Australian Institute for Progress (AIP).[6][10] During her time there, the AIP was a critic of anti-mining advocacy groups holding charitable status,[11] and hosted a visit to Brisbane by climate science denier Patrick Moore.[12] Also during Stoker's time, the AIP opposed tobacco plain packaging and criticised the World Health Organization's proposed international convention on tobacco.[13][14][15]

Political career

Stoker has a long history of involvement within the Liberal National Party. In 2010, Stoker was the Treasurer of the Young Liberal National Party. She was concurrently a member of the Liberal National Party Policy Standing Committee and Chair of the Media and Communications Policy Committee from 2009 to 2016. Moreover, she was a member of the party's State Executive from 2014 to 2017.[1] It would be the year after in 2018 that Stoker would be selected to replace George Brandis as a Federal Liberal senator for Queensland.[7] Notably, prior to her appointment to the Senate, Stoker unsuccessfully sought LNP pre-selection in 2009 for the State electoral district of Cleveland,[16] and was an unsuccessful LNP Senate candidate at the 2013 federal election.[17]

On 10 March 2018, the Queensland LNP chose Stoker to succeed high-profile cabinet member George Brandis as a Senator for Queensland.[18] Endorsed by the LNP State Executive Council, she did not face a vote by rank-and-file members.[19] The Australian reported that LNP members were threatening to push for gender quotas if the party did not preselect a woman,[20] and the Daily Mercury reported that LNP sources had said Stoker was one of the standouts, because she was based in Brisbane and would also increase the LNP's percentage of females.[21] But the LNP president denied gender was a motive, saying Stoker was chosen on merit.[18][7] The Parliament of Queensland appointed Stoker to the casual vacancy left by Brandis on 21 March 2018 and she was sworn in as a senator the following day.[22][23] Prior to Stoker's appointment to the senate, all federal LNP senators were men (George Brandis, Ian Macdonald, Barry O'Sullivan, James McGrath, and Matthew Canavan).[20][7] As an appointed senator, she will face her first election in 2022.[17]

On 22 December 2020, Stoker was appointed as the Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General.[24] On 30 March 2021 she was appointed to additional positions of Assistant Minister for Women and Assistant Minister for Industrial Relations.[1] In reference to her elevation Prime Minister Morrison said: "she's one of the most bright and intelligent people to come into this Parliament and I was thrilled to be able to bring her into the Executive so early in her Parliamentary career".[25]

Political positions

In 2020, The Australian named Stoker a "free speech champion and rising star of conservative politics".[26] She is part of the Liberal Party's conservative faction[27] and is aligned with the LNP's Christian right.[3] Stoker is a self-described "proud conservative" Christian who believes Christian values are "under attack". Her political heroes are former prime minister John Howard and former UK leader Margaret Thatcher. In 2019, Crikey reported that she is a social and fiscal conservative who had positioned herself as a champion of free speech and religious freedom. She claims conservatives are "misunderstood".[28]

The Catholic Leader wrote that, in her maiden speech, she had made the "brave observation" that "Australians don't trust politicians. In fact, Australians are losing faith across the four sectors of the economy – government, media, corporate and non-government organisations".[29] Stoker has spoken out against abortion and opposes the introduction of voluntary euthanasia legislation.[28][29] Stoker is a proponent for the introduction of a "religious discrimination bill".[30]

She has opposed the transgender rights movement,[26][31][28] and has said that her political opponents prioritise the rights of the LGBTIQ community over the "rights to freedom of conscience, religion and speech".[28] Citing the importance of keeping women's sport for women and the protection of children from dangerous hormone and surgical procedures. Additionally, Stoker told The Australian that everyone is entitled to support and respect, however inclusion of the trans-identifying adults could not "mean we neglect our duties to children." In 2020, Stoker launched a petition against "dangerous and radical ideas" and "completely unreasonable" demands of the transgender activist agenda.[26]

In 2018, Stoker opposed a proposed bill to remove an exemption in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 that allows religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.[32][33] In articulating her opposition to the proposal, she expressed concern that children may want "to run a gay club within the school".[32] She has claimed that sexuality is a "choice".[28]

Stoker has said she disapproves of women in politics "playing the gender card",[34] and has implied that women with children were "baggage" from an employer's perspective. She has pushed for nannies to be tax-deductible.[28] In July of 2021, Stoker was quoted commending changes to the LNP constitution to take a "zero tolerance" approach to sexual misconduct as part of a new complaints and investigation process. She said that it was an "important signal to women that their safety matters to the LNP".[35]

Stoker advocates for the repeal of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. In 2018 she said: "I think 18C has got to go. I think 18C is a drag on our society."[28] The Opposition responded by saying this would "water down protections against racist hate speech".[36]

Stoker blames unions for the casualisation of workplaces, and argues against raising minimum wages and penalty rates because doing so would "reduce job opportunities for those most in need".[28] She has also described unfair dismissal laws as a "block to growth".[37]

Stoker supports the development of an Australian nuclear energy industry.[38] She opposed the Government ban on the personal import of liquid nicotine used for vaping.[39]

Controversies

In June 2020, during a televised interview on Sky News, Stoker criticised Queensland's decision to close its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk "knows she is absolutely choking our economy by having these borders shut – she is the knee on the throat of businesses of Queensland, stopping them from breathing". Indigenous Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy labelled the comments as "abhorrent and insensitive" for apparently invoking a reference to the killing of George Floyd.[40] Stoker's spokesman had initially said she would not be backing away from her comments,[41] but in a subsequent speech to parliament, Stoker apologised to anyone genuinely hurt or offended, stating it was an 'unfortunate turn of phrase' used to emphasise her hurt for local Queensland businesses harmed by prolonged lockdowns.[42]

In the same month, the Brisbane Courier-Mail reported that Stoker had been using the pseudonym "Mandy Jane" to post comments on her own official Facebook site which defended and argued for the senator's views on topics including race, family law and religious freedom. Posts using Stoker's Mandy Jane profile referred to Stoker in the third person and copied the senator's own comments, while changing the pronouns to make it appear that they were from a different person. The Facebook profile photo of Mandy Jane was that of a storybook character. Stoker's spokesman said the Mandy Jane account was the senator's personal profile but denied she should have disclosed that before posting the material on her own page.[43]

Personal life

Stoker lives with her family in Auchenflower, a suburb of Brisbane.[5] She married her husband, Adam, in 2005 and they have three daughters.[44][5] She is a Christian and attends an Anglican church in inner-city Brisbane.[28][31][29]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Senator Amanda Stoker". Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021.
  2. ^ Stoker, Amanda Jane (9 April 2018). "Statement in relation to citizenship – 45th Parliament" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. Canberra. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b Killoran, Matthew (23 March 2018). "Amanda Stoker's journey to becoming a senator". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  4. ^ McIlroy, Tom (26 March 2018). "Meet senator Amanda Stoker, 35, a lawyer from Bundaberg who idolises Thatcher". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Queensland Parliament (21 March 2018). "Record Of Proceedings; First Session Of The Fifty-sixth Parliament; Wednesday, 21 March 2018" (PDF). Hansard. pp. 593(44)–600(51). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Amanda Stoker*". Level Twenty Seven Chambers. Brisbane. 1 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Hutchens, Gareth; AAP (11 March 2018). "Lawyer Amanda Stoker chosen to replace George Brandis in Senate". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  8. ^ "WLAQ History". The Women Lawyers Association of Qld. Brisbane. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b Stoker, Amanda Jane (19 June 2019). "Statement Of Registrable Interests – Form A – Senators" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. Canberra. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 July 2020.
  10. ^ Caldwell, Felicity (19 July 2018). "'Sorry kids, sorry grandkids': Former Queensland under treasurer slams debt". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  11. ^ McHugh, Babs (17 February 2015). "Anti-mining activists say they are within their rights to claim charity status". ABC Rural. Australia. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  12. ^ Readfearn, Graham (22 November 2017). "The climate science denial promoters behind Queensland's energy scare election headlines". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
  13. ^ Glenza, Jessica; Kelly, Sharon; Adolphe, Juweek (23 January 2020). "Free-market groups and the tobacco industry". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  14. ^ Australian Institute for Progress (22 September 2016). ""World Health Organization Uses Exclusion to Silence Debate" Says Former Australian Minister". prnewswire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  15. ^ Various (March 2018). "5 Years of Failure: Global Coalition Letter Against Plain Packaging" (PDF). propertyrightsalliance.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2018.
  16. ^ Goodenough, Cheryl (20 March 2018). "Senate replacement Amanda Stoker has connection to the Redlands". Redland City Bulletin. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018.
  17. ^ a b Hoffman, Bill (5 May 2019). "Un-elected Senator withdraws from Coast talk". Sunshine Coast Daily. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2020. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |lay-source= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |lay-url= ignored (help)
  18. ^ a b Layt, Stuart (11 March 2018). "Stoker to take Brandis's Queensland senate seat". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  19. ^ Gauja, Anika; Buckley, Fiona; Curtin, Jennifer (20 May 2018). "The Liberals have a serious women problem – and it's time they took action to change it". The Conversation Australia. The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018.
  20. ^ a b Sarah, Elks (4 March 2018). "LNP under pressure to pick a woman to replace Brandis". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  21. ^ Gellie, Campbell; Kippen, Troy (21 February 2018). "Deputy Mayor looking for seat in capital". Daily Mercury. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020.
  22. ^ Caldwell, Felicity (21 March 2018). "Amanda Stoker's election as Queensland senator is now official". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020.
  23. ^ AAP (22 March 2018). "Brandis' replacement joins Senate". SBS News. Australia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018.
  24. ^ Bradley, Michael (21 December 2020). "Australia just got one step closer to a High Court selected on ideological grounds". Crikey. Private Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Interview with Sabra Lane, ABC AM | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  26. ^ a b c Lane, Bernard (28 January 2020). "MP Amanda Stoker taking fight to transgender activists". The Australian. News Corp. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  27. ^ Tillett, Andrew (23 August 2019). "The rise of the next generation of factional leaders". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i Khalik, Jennine (12 July 2019). "Who is Amanda Stoker, rising star of the religious right?". Crikey. Private Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021.
  29. ^ a b c Bowling, Mark (5 July 2018). "Senator Amanda Stoker, Queensland's voice for life". The Catholic Leader. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020.
  30. ^ Ireland, Judith (13 February 2020). "'Risky', 'unrealistic': MPs hit back at call to ditch religious discrimination bill". The Age. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Meet Senator Amanda Stoker: Faith and Politics". trybooking.com. 1 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  32. ^ a b OIP Staff (4 December 2018). "Senator Stoker says religious protections needed to stop gay student clubs". OUTInPerth. Speirins Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020.
  33. ^ Coulter, Ellen (13 October 2018). "Morrison to change Sex Discrimination Act to protect gay students from expulsion". ABC News Australia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020.
  34. ^ Kenny, Chris (15 June 2020). "Qld Opposition leader using gender as a defence was a 'weak thing to do': Amanda Stoker". Sky News Australia. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |lay-source= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |lay-url= ignored (help)
  35. ^ McCormack, Madura (30 July 2021). "LNP adopts landmark new 'zero tolerance' policy to tackle sexual misconduct amid national upheaval". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021.
  36. ^ Burke MP, Tony; Dreyfus MP, Mark (25 June 2018). "Media Release – Liberal Party Continues Race Hate Rhetoric" (PDF). ParlInfo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2020.
  37. ^ "Ensuring Integrity Bill" (PDF). Maritime Workers Journal. Summer 2019. Maritime Union of Australia: 23. November 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2020.
  38. ^ Remeikis, Amy (2 October 2019). "Queensland LNP breaks with federal branch to oppose nuclear power". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  39. ^ Harris, Rob; Hunter, Fergus (25 June 2020). "Greg Hunt faces backbench revolt over vaping import ban". Brisbane Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020.
  40. ^ Karp, Paul (15 June 2020). "Liberal senator's 'knee on the throat' comment about Queensland premier 'abhorrent', Labor says". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020.
  41. ^ Maiden, Samantha (15 June 2020). "'Front of mind': Liberal Senator's excuse after 'vile' clip". News.Com.Au. News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020.
  42. ^ Stayner, Tom (16 June 2020). "Liberal senator Amanda Stoker apologises for calling Queensland premier 'knee on the throat' of tourism'". SBS News. Australia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020.
  43. ^ Wray, Michael (27 June 2020). "LNP Senator Amanda Stoker admits to using pseudonym on social media". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
  44. ^ "About Amanda". amandastoker.com.au. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019.
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Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Senator for Queensland
2018–present 		Incumbent
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