Katy Gallagher is currently a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory.
Katy’s career began in the community sector, working for People First ACT, an organisation providing advocacy and support to individuals with an intellectual disability. Katy has also been a project worker for Woden Community Service, working with children with disabilities, and worked as an Industrial Organiser for Commonwealth public servants at the CPSU.
Katy Gallagher began her political career when she was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2001. She was appointed a minister in 2002, serving in the ACT cabinet for the
next 12 years across various portfolios, including as Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health, Minister for Education, Community Services and Women. In May 2011, Katy was elected as Chief Minister of the ACT.
In December 2014, Katy Gallagher resigned as Chief Minister to take up a casual vacancy in the Australian Senate to replace long-serving Labor senator The Hon Kate Lundy. At the time
of her resignation, she was Australia’s longest-serving health minister after spending more than eight years in the post.
In October 2015, Senator Gallagher was appointed to Labor’s Shadow Ministry as Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness and Shadow Minister for Mental Health. Following
After the 2016 election, Senator Gallagher received shadow portfolio responsibility as Labor’s Shadow Minister for Small Business and Financial Services and is now the Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate.
Katy has a strong connection to Canberra, having grown up in the national capital and completing her schooling and tertiary education in the ACT. She currently lives in Canberra’s northern suburbs with her partner, three children, and two dogs.