Pru Goward
Prudence Jane Goward AO (born 2 September 1952) is an Australian former politician and was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 to 2019, representing the seat of Goulburn.
Pru Goward | |
|---|---|
Goward attending an opera function in Sydney (2012) | |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Goulburn | |
| In office 24 March 2007 – 1 March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | new district |
| Succeeded by | Wendy Tuckerman |
| Minister for Family and Community Services | |
| In office 30 January 2017 – 2 April 2019 | |
| Premier | Gladys Berejiklian |
| Preceded by | Brad Hazzard |
| Succeeded by | Gareth Ward |
| Minister for Social Housing | |
| In office 30 January 2017 – 2 April 2019 | |
| Premier | Gladys Berejiklian |
| Preceded by | Brad Hazzard |
| Succeeded by | Melinda Pavey |
| Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault | |
| In office 2 April 2015 – 2 April 2019 | |
| Premier | Mike Baird Gladys Berejiklian |
| Preceded by | new portfolio |
| Succeeded by | Mark Speakman |
| Minister for Mental Health | |
| In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017 | |
| Premier | Mike Baird |
| Preceded by | Jai Rowell |
| Succeeded by | Tanya Davies |
| Minister for Medical Research | |
| In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017 | |
| Premier | Mike Baird |
| Preceded by | Jillian Skinner |
| Succeeded by | Brad Hazzard |
| Minister for Women | |
| In office 3 April 2011 – 30 January 2017 | |
| Premier | Barry O'Farrell Mike Baird |
| Preceded by | Linda Burney |
| Succeeded by | Tanya Davies |
| Assistant Minister for Health | |
| In office 2 April 2015 – 30 January 2017 | |
| Premier | Mike Baird |
| Preceded by | Jai Rowell |
| Succeeded by | portfolio abolished |
| Minister for Planning | |
| In office 23 April 2014 – 2 April 2015 | |
| Premier | Mike Baird |
| Preceded by | Brad Hazzard |
| Succeeded by | Rob Stokes |
| Minister for Family and Community Services | |
| In office 3 April 2011 – 23 April 2014 | |
| Premier | Barry O'Farrell |
| Preceded by | Linda Burney |
| Succeeded by | Gabrielle Upton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prudence Jane Goward 2 September 1952 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Alastair Fischer (m. 1973; dis. 1983) David Barnett (1986-2022 (his death)) |
| Children | 3 (including Kate Fischer) |
| Alma mater | Adelaide University (1974) |
She was the New South Wales Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister for Social Housing, from January 2017 to March 2019 in the Berejiklian government, and the Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, from 2015 until March 2019. Goward has also previously served as the Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Medical Research, and Assistant Minister for Health between April 2015 and January 2017, and the Minister for Women between 2011 and January 2017, in the second Baird government and the Minister for Planning during 2014 and 2015. With the first Berejiklian government she returned to Community Services portfolio which she previously held between 2011 and 2014, in the O'Farrell and first Baird governments.
Prior to entering politics, Goward served as the Australian Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination with the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. In 2019, Goward became an academic with Western Sydney University.