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Mary Doyle
Mary Doyle
Mary Doyle
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Mary Judith Jacinta Doyle (born 26 June 1970)[1][2] is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Parliament of Australia representing the Federal Division of Aston since a by-election on 1 April 2023, held to replace former Liberal member Alan Tudge. Doyle is the first woman to hold the seat of Aston since its creation in 1984, and the first Labor MP for the seat since 1990.[3]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]
Mary Doyle MP takes to the podium with Deputy PM Richard Marles as she claims victory in front of supporters after winning the seat of Aston for ALP with 54% of the vote in Melbourne, Australia.

Doyle is the youngest of nine children.[4][5] She was born and raised in Echuca,[5][4] where her family lived in public housing.[1] Doyle attended secondary school at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.[1] At the age of 17, Doyle moved to suburban Melbourne.[4][5]

Doyle attended TAFE to study Performing Arts.[4] She is a singer and a performer.[4] In the 1990s she was active in the local Melbourne music scene as a singer.[4] She was a vocalist in Australian indie bands The Late Mail[6] and The Beautiful Few.[7] She also plays the ukulele.

In 2010, Doyle appeared on the Australian television soap opera Neighbours.[8] She was a contestant on RocKwiz in 2012.

In 1995 when she was 25, Doyle was diagnosed with breast cancer. She made a successful recovery. [4]

Politics

[edit]

Doyle previously contested the seat in the 2022 federal election.[9] Due to the timing of the by-election and the coronation of King Charles III, Doyle was the first member of the federal parliament to be sworn in under a king since 1951.[10]

The result of the by-election marked the first time since 1920 that a government has won a by-election from the opposition.[3] At the start of the by-election, Doyle lived in the suburb of Mitcham, located in the neighbouring Deakin electorate.[11][12] She now lives in Wantirna South, within the electorate.

Doyle was re-elected at the 2025 Australian federal election, defeating Liberal candidate Manny Cicchiello.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Doyle was married in 1998.[4] She has a son and a daughter.[4][5] She was divorced in 2016,[1] raising her children as a single mother. She is also guardian to her great-niece.[4][5]

Doyle is a member of the Australian Services Union and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.[14]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Mary Doyle

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Mary Doyle (born 26 June 1970) is an Australian politician serving as the Australian Labor Party member for the Division of in the . She won the seat at a in April 2023 following the resignation of Liberal MP , marking the first Labor hold in Aston since 1990 and making her the first woman to represent the electorate since its creation in 1983. Doyle was re-elected in the 2025 federal election, retaining the seat amid a competitive contest. Raised in as the youngest of nine siblings, Doyle moved to Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs at age 17, where she has resided since. She holds certificates in from Box Hill TAFE and Swinburne University, and a diploma in community services from Victoria University. Her pre-parliamentary career included roles as a operator, administration officer, and extensive work as a union organiser for the Finance Sector Union, Health and Community Services Union, and National Union from 2000 to 2022, alongside positions at the Australian Council of Trade Unions and as a key stakeholder relations specialist at HESTA Super Fund. Diagnosed with at age 25 in 1995, she recovered after a brief period off work supported by sickness benefits. In parliament, Doyle has served on committees including and Legal Affairs, and currently chairs the Standing Committee on Publications while sitting on the Communications, the Arts and Sport committee.

Early life

Upbringing and family background

Mary Doyle was born on 26 June 1970 in , Victoria, the youngest of nine children in a Catholic family. Her parents, Edmund "Ted" Doyle, a farm machinery salesman, and Mary Doyle (née Duggan), had married in June 1951; Mary's mother originated from Coburg, Melbourne, and the family had settled in regional Victoria by the late 1940s. The Doyles experienced tragedy early, losing an infant son, Edmund Jr., to in 1957, before the four youngest children, including Doyle, were born after the family's 1959 relocation to . The family resided in amid financial hardships, compounded by Ted Doyle's battles with and depression, which affected the household dynamics during Doyle's childhood. She attended local Catholic schools, St Mary's Primary School and St Joseph's College, where teachings on shaped her early worldview. By age one in 1971, Doyle had become an aunt, reflecting the large extended family's closeness despite challenges. At 17, Doyle relocated from to Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, establishing roots in the region she would later represent politically.

Education and formative experiences

Mary Doyle was born on 26 June 1970 in , Victoria, as the youngest of nine children in a family raised in . Her parents relocated to in , where her father worked as a farm machinery salesman, shaping a household environment marked by modest means and strong familial bonds. From an early age, Doyle attended Catholic schools in , where teachings on profoundly influenced her worldview, instilling values of equity and community support that she later described as foundational. Doyle completed her secondary education at . At age 15, she began working after school as a waitress in , gaining early exposure to labor and service roles that informed her later advocacy. By 17, she moved to Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, where she resided long-term and pursued further vocational training amid various jobs. Her post-secondary education focused on performing arts and community services. Doyle obtained a Certificate I in from Box Hill Institute TAFE, followed by a Certificate II in from , reflecting her involvement in local music and performance scenes. She later earned a in Services from Victoria University, aligning with her shift toward union organizing and social advocacy. These qualifications, combined with practical experiences in arts and early workforce entry, formed the basis of her pre-political career trajectory.

Pre-parliamentary career

Involvement in arts and performing

Doyle attended TAFE to study after relocating to Melbourne's outer suburbs at age 17. In the , she performed as a singer with several bands in Melbourne's local music scene. She also took on bit-part acting roles, including appearances on the Australian Neighbours.

Union organizing and advocacy work

Doyle began her union career as an organiser for the Finance Sector Union from 6 March 2000 to 19 July 2007, where she supported members in the industry. She subsequently served as area organiser for the Health and Community Services Union from 23 July 2007 to 28 November 2008, focusing on workers in health and community sectors. These early roles involved approximately a decade of on-the-ground organizing, during which she functioned as an , negotiator, researcher, counsellor, and confidante for union members facing challenges. From 11 May 2009 to 1 February 2021, Doyle worked at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), initially as marketing officer for the first ten years (2009–2019), promoting union membership benefits such as cost savings on essentials, and later as partnerships manager for the final two years (2019–2021). In these capacities, she engaged with delegates at national conferences, built relationships across the labor movement, and contributed to broader advocacy for workers' rights and social welfare. Doyle returned to frontline organizing as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union from 15 April 2021 to 15 August 2022, representing staff in higher education institutions. Throughout her union tenure, she emphasized practical support for members, including negotiating better conditions and aiding in disputes, drawing on experiences that informed her later political focus on . Her work aligned with Labor-affiliated unions, prioritizing empirical improvements in wages, , and sector-specific protections.

Political career

2023 Aston by-election and entry into federal politics

The was triggered by the resignation of Liberal MP , who announced his retirement from parliament in February 2023 after holding the seat since 2010. , located in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, had been a safe Liberal seat since its creation in 1984, with Labor's last victory occurring in 1990. In the 2022 federal election, the Liberal candidate retained with a two-party-preferred margin of 2.8 percent. Mary Doyle, a Labor Party member with prior experience in union organizing and community advocacy, was selected as the party's candidate for the . The occurred on April 1, 2023, pitting Doyle against Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell. Despite historical trends where governments typically lose support in s, Labor achieved an unexpected swing of approximately 6 percent on a two-party-preferred basis, securing 53.3 percent of the vote to the Liberals' 46.7 percent. This marked the first instance since 1920 that an gained an opposition-held seat at a , flipping to Labor for the first time in over three decades. Doyle became the first woman to represent the electorate. Following her victory, Doyle was elected to the for and sworn in on May 9, 2023, marking her entry into federal politics. In her post-election remarks, she pledged to represent all constituents regardless of their vote and emphasized local priorities such as cost-of-living pressures and healthcare access. The win bolstered the government's parliamentary majority and highlighted vulnerabilities in the Liberal Party's hold on suburban seats.

Parliamentary service and committee roles

Mary Doyle was elected to the as the member for , Victoria, in a on 1 April 2023, following the resignation of Liberal MP . She was re-elected in the 2025 federal election. Throughout her parliamentary service, Doyle has held memberships on several standing committees. She served as a member of the Standing Committee on and Legal Affairs from 10 May 2023 until 28 March 2025. Following the 2025 election, she joined the Standing Committee on Communications, the Arts and Sport as a member on 24 July 2025, a position she continues to hold. Doyle also serves on the Standing Committee on Publications, initially appointed as a member on 24 July 2025 and elevated to chair on 30 July 2025, roles she maintains as of October 2025.

2025 federal election and re-election

In the 2025 Australian federal election, held on 3 May 2025, Mary Doyle, the incumbent Australian Labor Party member for , sought re-election against Liberal Party candidate Manny Cicchiello. , classified as a key seat due to its competitive history, saw Doyle retain the division she had won in the 2023 by-election. Doyle secured victory with 53.43% of the , defeating Cicchiello who received 46.57%, resulting in a margin of 7,531 votes in her favor. The electorate had 122,512 enrolled voters and recorded a turnout of 94.41%. Cicchiello garnered 51,159 votes. The official declaration of results took place on 22 May 2025, confirming Doyle's re-election to the for the 48th Parliament. This outcome maintained Labor's hold on the seat, which had flipped to the party in the 2023 by-election amid a national swing against the former Liberal government.

Policy positions and voting record

Economic policies and

Mary Doyle's approach to economic policies emphasizes cost-of-living relief measures aligned with the Australian Labor Party's platform, including revised stage 3 tax cuts providing benefits to lower- and middle-income earners, a 20% reduction in HECS-HELP , and expanded access to cheaper prescription medicines under the . These initiatives, which Doyle has publicly endorsed, aim to distribute fiscal support more equitably while addressing inflationary pressures on households, alongside complementary policies such as energy bill rebates, increased rent assistance, and efforts to curb supermarket price gouging. In , Doyle's positions are informed by her pre-parliamentary career as a for the Sector Union, and Services Union, and National Union, as well as roles at the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), where she advocated for , member benefits, and worker advocacy. She has consistently voted with the Labor Party on workplace reforms, including support for the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) No. 1 Bill 2023, which redefined casual employment to provide pathways to permanency, criminalized wage theft, and facilitated multi-employer to improve wages and conditions in low-paid sectors. This legislation, passed in November 2023, sought to close exploitative loopholes while maintaining business flexibility, reflecting Doyle's emphasis on secure jobs and fair pay as outlined in her . Doyle has not deviated from party positions on economic voting matters, maintaining 100% alignment with Labor colleagues since her 2023 entry to , including endorsements of annual adjustments by the —such as the 3.75% increase effective July 2024—and opposition to measures that would undermine union negotiating power or worker protections. Her advocacy extends to viewing social security and welfare supports as integral to , rejecting characterizations of them as "dirty words" and crediting historical Labor reforms, like Whitlam-era pension payments, for enabling household financial management amid vulnerabilities such as or illness.

Social issues, welfare, and health

Doyle has advocated for destigmatizing welfare, emphasizing its role in providing societal security and supporting individuals during recovery from illness or hardship. In her to on May 9, 2023, she recounted accessing welfare payments while undergoing treatment for diagnosed in 1995, crediting them with preventing her from being "left behind" and calling for a renewed embrace of such measures for the broader welfare of people. During the May 2023 parliamentary debate on raising the JobSeeker payment rate, she stated that "welfare isn't a dirty word," positioning it as essential rather than amid discussions on adequacy. On health policy, Doyle supports the universality and expansion of Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system, which she described in her as a Labor-initiated mechanism for caring for the unwell, personally crediting it for enabling her diagnostic tests and treatments during cancer recovery. She has endorsed government initiatives to enhance Medicare coverage, including the addition of health assessments as a bulk-billed item effective from September 2025, noting that such measures address longstanding neglect in . Doyle has also promoted the rollout of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in her electorate, such as the facility opened in 2025, which provide free walk-in treatment for non-emergency conditions to reduce pressure on emergency departments and improve access. In welfare and disability advocacy, Doyle honors the legacy of Matilda "Tilly" , a pioneering vision-impaired activist, by presenting the annual Tilly Aston Achievement Award in her electorate since 2023 to recognize contributions to disability inclusion and persistence against barriers. She has engaged with providers, visiting in Knox during Foster Care Week in 2024 to discuss challenges in out-of-home care systems and the supportive role of carers for vulnerable children. Doyle's parliamentary voting record aligns with Labor positions on expanding supports, including consistent yes votes on bills increasing access to subsidised childcare, such as measures under the 2023-2025 Better Start for Stronger agenda aimed at affordability and availability for working families. No public statements or votes from Doyle diverge notably on contentious social issues like reproductive rights or voluntary assisted dying, where federal jurisdiction is limited and state laws predominate in Victoria.

Immigration and other stances

Doyle has advocated for maintaining 's non-discriminatory migration policy, stating in April 2025 that it constitutes "a source of great strength" and urging resistance against alterations to it. In September 2025, following Anthony Albanese's remark that "good people" attended anti-immigration rallies organized under the "March for Australia" banner, Doyle privately questioned the on the phrasing, inquiring "Where do we draw the line?" in reference to excusing participants amid concerns over rising anti-immigration sentiment. Her parliamentary votes reflect support for certain migration controls, including consistent backing for legislation capping numbers at universities, a measure aimed at managing temporary migration pressures post-2023 intake surges exceeding 500,000 visas annually. She also voted consistently for banning mobile phones and other devices in centers, enacted via the Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Act 2024 to enhance security amid incidents of organized unrest. On , Doyle has aligned with Labor's policy framework, highlighting in October 2025 the government's rollout of record investments—targeting 82% renewables by 2030—and support for mandatory climate-related financial disclosures for large corporations, approved in September 2024 legislation requiring annual reporting on emissions and transition risks starting July 2025. No public deviations from party positions on or have been recorded, with her votes maintaining 100% alignment with the Labor since entering in April 2023.

Criticisms and controversies

Voting against transparency measures

Mary Doyle has followed discipline in voting against several legislative proposals and s intended to bolster transparency in appointments and electoral processes. On 24 May 2023, during consideration in detail of the Infrastructure Australia (Independent Review) Bill 2023, Doyle voted in favor of the government's position, which opposed an aimed at increasing transparency requirements for appointments to Infrastructure Australia, a key infrastructure advisory body; the , proposed to mandate greater public disclosure of selection criteria and processes, was defeated along party lines. This vote contributed to her overall record of consistent opposition to measures enhancing transparency in public appointments, as tracked by independent parliamentary vote analysis, reflecting a 0% alignment with such policies across relevant divisions. In the context of , Doyle voted against the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Bill 2024, a introduced by independent MP to introduce reforms including enhanced disclosure requirements for political donations and campaign spending, which proponents argued would improve transparency in federal elections. On 18 November 2024, she supported the government's "No" position during a key division on the bill, contributing to its failure by a . Labor's opposition to the bill centered on concerns over its scope and potential to disrupt existing electoral frameworks, though critics from the crossbench and opposition contended it addressed gaps in real-time donation reporting and foreign influence safeguards. These votes align with broader government resistance to non-government transparency initiatives, prioritizing legislative control over independent or opposition-driven reforms.

Public statements and political associations

Mary Doyle's pre-parliamentary career included roles as a union organiser with the , the , and the , associations that critics from the opposition have cited as indicative of a strong alignment with organized labor's priorities over broader economic interests. These ties, rooted in her advocacy for workers' rights in , , and sectors, have been referenced in debates on , where opponents argue they contribute to Labor's perceived favoritism toward union demands in policy formulation. In her to on May 11, 2023, emphasized personal experiences from a housing commission upbringing, declaring that "welfare isn't a dirty word" while advocating for support systems like JobSeeker payments amid debates over their adequacy and reform. This position, framed as drawing from empirical reliance on government assistance during hardship—including her own diagnosis at age 25—drew criticism from conservative commentators and Liberal figures who contended it romanticized dependency and overlooked incentives for employment in a tightening labor market. Doyle has also been linked to Australia, a and support network for Labor women candidates committed to pro-choice policies, which she credited in her campaign for aiding her historic 2023 victory in . Opponents have portrayed this affiliation as embedding her within a progressive faction prioritizing identity-based advocacy, potentially at odds with the electorate's suburban demographics. In a closed-door Labor meeting on September 2, 2025, Doyle questioned Anthony Albanese's public remark that "good people" had attended anti- "March for Australia" rallies, reportedly asking, "Where do we draw the line?" This statement, leaked to media, highlighted internal party tensions over engaging with public concerns on immigration levels amid rising net migration figures exceeding 500,000 annually, with some viewing her intervention as overly cautious toward populist sentiments despite Labor's official high-immigration stance.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Mary Doyle was born on 5 May 1970 in , Victoria, as the youngest of nine children in a Catholic raised in . Her parents relocated their growing to Echuca in 1959 after her father secured employment as a farm machinery salesman, where the youngest four children, including Doyle, were born. Doyle married in her early adulthood and became a mother to son Clancy, born three years after her marriage, followed by daughter Lily. She raised her children as a single mother for approximately a decade. As of 2025, Doyle is married and has two adult children.

Health challenges and resilience

In 1995, at the age of 25, Doyle was diagnosed with , requiring intensive treatment that necessitated two years off work as a teacher. The publicly funded Medicare system covered her , , and follow-up care, which she later credited with enabling access to life-saving interventions that would otherwise have been unaffordable. Doyle's recovery from cancer marked a pivotal demonstration of personal resilience, as she returned to professional life in the health and community services sector, eventually rising to roles such as area organizer for the Health and Community Services Union from 2007 to 2011. This experience informed her advocacy for robust policies, emphasizing early detection and equitable access during her parliamentary tenure. Her upbringing in a family facing her father's and associated struggles further honed this resilience, exposing her early to the intersections of health crises, , and social support systems. Despite these adversities, Doyle progressed from roots to electoral success, including her 2023 by-election victory and 2025 re-election in , channeling personal trials into policy-focused determination.

References

  1. https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=299962
  2. https://marydoyle.com.au/news/my-first-speech/mary-doyle-s-first-speech/
  3. https://www.alp.org.au/our-people/our-people/mary-doyle/
  4. https://www.advoc8.co/p/mary-doyle
  5. https://au.linkedin.com/in/maryjjdoyle
  6. https://marydoyle.com.au/about/about-mary/
  7. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/flashback/aston-byelection-winner-labor-candidate-mary-doyle-once-acted-in-neighbours/news-story/57770ece2de603387301b0ce87fe4336
  8. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-01/byelection-result-aston-melbourne-labor-win/102157990
  9. https://www.tallyroom.com.au/archive/astonby2023
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/01/aston-byelection-labor-achieves-once-in-a-century-victory-capturing-liberal-heartland-seat
  11. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-seat-of-aston-has-never-been-held-by-a-woman-labors-mary-doyle-is-about-to-change-that/uwq866pn5
  12. https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/asto
  13. https://handbook.aph.gov.au/voting/elections/2025/418/division/Aston
  14. https://results.aec.gov.au/31496/Website/HouseDivisionPage-31496-197.htm
  15. https://www.facebook.com/MaryDoyleMP/posts/tax-cuts-20-off-student-debt-cheaper-medicines-were-helping-with-the-cost-of-liv/809004878315944/
  16. https://marydoyle.com.au/news/community-newsletter/december-2024-mary-doyle-mp-aston-update-community-news/
  17. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/representatives/2023-11-28/5
  18. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/aston/mary_doyle
  19. https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansardr/27172/&sid=0094
  20. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/welfare-isn-t-a-dirty-word-says-new-aston-mp-amid-jobseeker-debate-20230511-p5d7ou.html
  21. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/minister-for-health-and-aged-cares-press-conference-on-4-september-2024
  22. https://anchor.org.au/connecting-with-carers-mary-doyle-mp-visits-anchor/
  23. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/aston/mary_doyle/policies/349
  24. https://www.instagram.com/p/DJDLTgIBLgc/
  25. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/02/labor-unease-anthony-albanese-comments-march-for-australia-rallies-ntwnfb
  26. https://www.reddit.com/r/LaborPartyofAustralia/comments/1n733zn/labor_mp_questions_albanese_on_claim_good_people/
  27. https://www.facebook.com/MaryDoyleMP/posts/labor-is-taking-practical-action-on-climate-change/829020242981074/
  28. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/aston/mary_doyle/policies/355
  29. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/representatives/2023-05-24/8
  30. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/aston/mary_doyle/policies/306
  31. https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/representatives/2024-11-18/1
  32. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/a-suburban-mum-knocks-out-libs/news-story/ee70ccdeed90d9c2a07d0e3024c72c4a
  33. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/i-felt-like-someone-had-punched-me-parliaments-newest-mp-shares-breast-cancer-story-in-maiden-speech/news-story/99120c0c42692eb206540273566b3bd4
  34. https://www.emilyslist.org.au/aston_by_election
  35. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/03/ed-husic-anthony-albanese-jacinta-nampijinpa-price-march-for-australia-immigration-comments-ntwnfb
  36. https://au.news.yahoo.com/mp-heartbreaking-health-battle-031000605.html
  37. https://www.facebook.com/JacksonTaylorMP/posts/this-is-mary-doyle-mp-shes-our-federal-labor-member-for-aston-and-im-proud-to-ca/1219360889981304/
  38. https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2023/05/11/doyle-praises-medicare-first-speech
  39. https://www.facebook.com/MaryDoyleMP/videos/for-many-australians-including-myself-medicare-plays-an-important-and-personal-p/498748059858682/
  40. https://handbook.aph.gov.au/parliamentarians/299962
  41. https://m.facebook.com/MarkButlerMP/photos/mary-doyle-is-our-labor-candidate-for-aston-mary-was-diagnosed-with-breast-cance/750142496480431/
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