Libby Coker

Libby Coker
MP
Libby Coker in 2022.
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Corangamite
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 May 2019
Preceded bySarah Henderson
Councillor of the Surf Coast Shire
for Anglesea Ward
In office
29 November 2008 – 15 June 2019
Mayor of the Surf Coast Shire
In office
2009–2010
Personal details
Born (1962-06-11) 11 June 1962 (age 62)
Melbourne
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor
Residences
Alma mater
ProfessionTeacher and journalist
Websitelibbycoker.com.au

Elizabeth Ann Coker (born 11 June 1962) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2019 federal election, representing the Victorian seat of Corangamite. She previously served as the mayor of the Surf Coast Shire. Coker won her seat in the 2022 Australian federal election with a 6.5% swing to the ALP.[1]

Early life

Coker was born in Melbourne on 11 June 1962.[2] Her mother Frances Mann worked as a nurse and her father Jack Coker was a senior public servant with the Australian Broadcasting Control Board. She grew up in the suburb of Beaumaris, later moving with her family to Port Macquarie, New South Wales[3] where Coker's activism began.[3]

In her first speech to parliament, Coker revealed she vandalised a real estate sign with her then-boyfriend in Port Macquarie, in an act of defiance against deforestation. She said she has "moved on" from spray-painting signs, but understands people who are frustrated by government inaction on climate change.[3]

Coker holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and Bachelor of Letters from Deakin University, as well as a Diploma of Education from Monash University.[2] Prior to entering politics, she worked briefly as a schoolteacher in outer Melbourne and held various positions in journalism, communications and public relations, including as a manager at the Victorian Department of Education.[3][2] She completed a journalism cadetship at the Geelong Advertiser.[2]

Politics

Coker was first elected to the Surf Coast Shire council in 2008, for the Anglesea ward. She served as mayor between 2009 and 2010, and again from 2012 to 2013.[4]

House of Representatives

Coker won the ultra-marginal seat of Corangamite at the 2019 Australian federal election, defeating Liberal incumbent Sarah Henderson.[5] Coker had unsuccessfully contested the seat at the 2016 Australian federal election.[6] The 2022 Australian Federal Election was won by the Australian Labor Party (ALP), winning with 77 seats [7] forming majority in the lower house. As a result, Coker won the ultra-marginal seat of Corangamite.

Following a redistribution of electoral boundaries in 2021 by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), Coker no longer resides in the electorate she represents. The coastal towns of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, where she resides, are now incorporated into the Division of Wannon.

In March 2024 Coker called for a stop on plans to seismic blast the Otway Basin.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Corangamite (Key Seat) - Federal Electorate, Candidates, Results". abc.net.au. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ms Libby Coker MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S SPEECH - Address-in-Reply". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Cr Libby Coker". surfcoast.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  5. ^ "It's Over: Henderson Finally Concedes to Coker". Geelong Advertiser. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Federal Election 2016: Libby Coker concedes Coranga-fight to Sarah Henderson". Geelong Advertiser. 2 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Federal Election 2022 - Australia Votes". www.abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. ^ Lamacraft, Tim (8 March 2024). "Coker calls for halt to seismic blasting". K ROCK 95.5. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

 

Australian House of Representatives
Preceded by Member for Corangamite
2019–present 		Incumbent