Tanya Davies


Tanya Davies, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Mulgoa for the Liberal Party since 2011.
Davies was the New South Wales Minister for Mental Health, the Minister for Women and the Minister for Ageing from January 2017 until March 2019 in the first Berejiklian government.

Early years and background

Davies was born and raised in Newcastle and moved to Sydney, aged 17, initially living with her grandparents at Regents Park for her university studies where she graduated with a degree in physiotherapy from the University of Sydney. Davies worked as a physiotherapist in the public health system before working in higher education institutions such as the University of Western Sydney and TAFE. Elected to Penrith City Council in 2008, Davies served on Council until 2012. Davies' husband, Mark Davies, also served on Penrith City Council and in 2012 was elected mayor of the City of Penrith. Tanya has two children the eldest Laura Davies and the youngest Harry Davies.

Political career

In 2011, Davies contested the normally safe Labor seat of Mulgoa in Sydney's western suburbs. She was elected with a swing of 17.9 points, winning the seat with 62 per cent of the two-party vote, thereby turning the electorate from safe Labor to safe Liberal in one stroke. Davies' Labor opponent was Prue Guillaume. Diane Beamer, who was the sitting Labor member, had retired from politics after holding the seat and its predecessor, Badgerys Creek, for 16 years.
In 2017, Davies was appointed the Minister for Mental Health, the Minister for Women and the Minister for Ageing in the Berejiklian government. In June 2018, Davies voted against a bill that would create "safe access zones" outside abortion clinics. Davies was re-elected at the 2019 state election, but was not reappointed to the Second Berejiklian ministry.