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Tara Cheyne
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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.
Key Information
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.
Cheyne married her long-term partner, James McMenamin, in Grand Teton National Park in August, 2025.[3]
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.[4]
She held the position of President of the Belconnen Community Council 2014–15, sat on the board of the Belconnen Arts Centre,[5] and was a founding member of the Canberra Global Shapers Hub.[6]
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.[7]
Her inaugural speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly was given on 13 December 2016.[8][9]
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[10]
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.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Tara follows political path all the way to Canberra accessed 23 October 2016
- ^ Tara Cheyne - Candidate for Ginninderra accessed 23 October 2016
- ^ "ACT minister Tara Cheyne marries in the beautiful wilderness of Wyoming". The Canberra Times. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "About In The Taratory". In The Taratory. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ Belconnen Arts Centre accessed 23 October 2016
- ^ Canberra Global Shapers Hub accessed 21 November 2016
- ^ ACT election final results - 2016 accessed 23 October 2016
- ^ ACT, Legislative Assembly for the. "Hansard of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT". www.hansard.act.gov.au. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "First Speech". taracheyne.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ Australian Capital Territory (Self - Government) Ministerial Appointment 2021 (No 1) Notifiable instrument NI2021–85, ACT Government, accessed 2021-06-11
- ^ "Tara Cheyne MLA". ACT Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 23 February 2025.