Denise Allen
Denise Margaret Allen is a former Australian politician, political strategist, social/political commentator and disability advocate.
Born in Alexandra, Victoria to Jack Donald and Bette Doreen Boote, she attended local public schools before graduating in 1970. Prior to entering politics, Allen was a life skills/motivational tutor. She also owned a modelling agency, beauty therapy studio and retail fashion store.
In 2000, Allen was the Labor Party candidate for the by-election for Benalla in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, which was being vacated by former Deputy Premier and state Nationals leader Pat McNamara. On paper, Allen faced daunting odds. Benalla was a staunchly conservative seat in rural northeastern Victoria, and had been in National hands for all but nine years since 1920. However, she won a surprise victory over new Nationals candidate Bill Sykes, winning by only 237 votes. She was the first Labor member ever to win it. A Buddhist, she was the inaugural chairperson of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet. In the 2002 state election, she was defeated by Sykes in a rematch despite Labor being reelected in a massive landslide. Although Allen led on the primary vote, she was defeated on the third count after the preferences of the Liberal candidate, Andrew Dwyer, flowed overwhelmingly to Sykes.
