Tara Cheyne

Australian politician (born 1986)

Tara Cheyne

MLA

Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory

Incumbent

Assumed office
7 November 2024
Preceded by| Shane Rattenbury
Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for Ginninderra

Incumbent

Assumed office
26 October 2016
Personal details
Born|

Tara Maree Cheyne

(1986-12-30) 30 December 1986 (age 38)
Cairns, Queensland
Nationality| Australian
Political party| Labor Party
Residence| Belconnen Town Centre
Alma mater| University of Queensland
University of Canberra
Occupation| Politician
Website| www.taracheyne.com.au

Tara Maree Cheyne (/ˈtʃeɪn/ CHAYN, born 30 December 1986) is an Australian politician, serving as a Member for the Ginninderra electorate in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly as of 26 October 2016.

## Life, education and career prior to entering politics

[edit]

Tara Cheyne was born in the northern Queensland city of Cairns and throughout her youth lived with her parents in a number of rural Queensland mining towns. She attended Rockhampton Grammar School[1] as a boarder and completed high school studies in 2003, being awarded Academic Dux. She studied at the University of Queensland completing a dual program of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Journalism. She moved to Canberra in 2008 and began her public service career in the Attorney-General's Department, rising to senior positions.

Cheyne completed a Master of Business Administration from the University of Canberra in September 2013.[2]

In 2016, she began a position in the Department of Finance which she held until her election to the Legislative Assembly in October 2016.

## Community profile

[edit]

Cheyne began a popular blog, In The Taratory in 2011. The name is a portmanteau of the words Tara and Territory (for ACT). The blog focused on reviewing and promoting activities and services from the Canberra region. It was originally co-written by Cheyne and another person called Tara, but was solely authored by Cheyne from August 2012.[3]

She held the position of President of the Belconnen Community Council 2014–15, sat on the board of the Belconnen Arts Centre,[4] and was a founding member of the Canberra Global Shapers Hub.[5]

## Political career

[edit]

In November 2015, Cheyne was preselected by the ACT Branch of the Labor Party as a candidate in Ginninderra for the 2016 ACT Election. Cheyne was declared elected on 22 October 2016.[6]

Her inaugural speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly was given on 13 December 2016.[7][8]

In the Ministry effective 17 February 2021, Cheyne was:

* Assistant Minister for Economic Development
* Minister for the Arts
* Minister for Business and Better Regulation
* Minister for Human Rights
* Minister for Multicultural Affairs [9]

As of the 2024 Fourth Barr ministry, Cheyne is the Manager of Government Business, the Attorney-General, the Minister for Human Rights, the Minister for City and Government Services and the Minister for the Night-Time Economy.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Tara follows political path all the way to Canberra accessed 23 October 2016
2. ^ Tara Cheyne - Candidate for Ginninderra accessed 23 October 2016
3. ^ "About In The Taratory". In The Taratory. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
4. ^ Belconnen Arts Centre accessed 23 October 2016
5. ^ Canberra Global Shapers Hub accessed 21 November 2016
6. ^ ACT election final results - 2016 accessed 23 October 2016
7. ^ ACT, Legislative Assembly for the. "Hansard of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT". www.hansard.act.gov.au. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
8. ^ "First Speech". taracheyne.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
9. ^ Australian Capital Territory (Self - Government) Ministerial Appointment 2021 (No 1) Notifiable instrument NI2021–85, ACT Government, accessed 2021-06-11
10. ^ "Tara Cheyne MLA". ACT Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 23 February 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* ACT Legislative Assembly Hansard: speech index, Tara Cheyne, 2017
* ACT Legislative Assembly: profile

* v
* t
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Current members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly

Labor (10)|

* Andrew Barr
* Yvette Berry
* Tara Cheyne
* Suzanne Orr
* Marisa Paterson
* Michael Pettersson
* Chris Steel
* Rachel Stephen-Smith
* Caitlin Tough
* Taimus Werner-Gibbings

Liberal (9)|

* Chiaka Barry
* Peter Cain
* Leanne Castley
* Ed Cocks
* Jeremy Hanson
* Elizabeth Lee
* James Milligan
* Deborah Morris
* Mark Parton

Greens (4)|

* Andrew Braddock
* Jo Clay
* Laura Nuttall
* Shane Rattenbury

Independents for Canberra (1)|

* Thomas Emerson

Fiona Carrick Independent (1)|

* Fiona Carrick

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