Jocelyn Newman


Jocelyn Margaret Newman was an Australian politician. She was a Senator for Tasmania for 15 years, and a minister in the Howard Government.

Political career

Jocelyn Margaret Mullett was born in Melbourne, the eldest of three surviving children of Lyndhurst Mullett, a solicitor, and his wife Margaret. She was educated at Mont Albert Central School and Presbyterian Ladies' College. She was a barrister and solicitor before entering Parliament. She married Kevin Newman in 1961. Their son, Campbell, was the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, and later Premier of Queensland.
Newman was appointed to the Senate on 13 March 1986. In her first Senate speech, she quoted Dame Enid Lyons's first speech in the House of Representatives : "I know so well that fear, want and idleness can kill the spirit of any people. But I know too that security can be bought at too great a cost—the cost of spiritual freedom."
She served as Minister for Social Security in the first Howard Ministry from March 1996 to October 1998, Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from March 1996 to October 1997 and Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from October 1998 to January 2001.
In the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours Newman was made an Officer of the Order of Australia "For service to the community through contributions to the development of government policies in relation to social security reform, as an advocate for women's issues, particularly in the health and welfare areas, and as a supporter of local organisations in Tasmania."

Personal life

Newman was successfully treated for breast cancer during her time in office. She resigned from parliament on 1 February 2002. Her husband died in 1999. Newman died at Berry, New South Wales on 1 April 2018, aged 80, from Alzheimer's disease. She was survived by her son, her daughter, and four granddaughters.