Allison Ritchie

Awarded for service to community, advocacy, and inclusion; government and public services; human rights; sport and recreation

Born: 28 July 1974

Entered on roll: 2023

"Early interest in policy and advocacy"

Allison Ritchie has a passion for policy, advocacy and offering social solutions to individuals and community organisations.

At the age of 14, Allison joined the Tasmanian Labor Party and attended local branch meetings. In 1996, she was appointed Executive Assistant to the Tasmanian Labor State Secretary.

Allison was a foundation member and State Convenor of EMILY’s List in Australia, an organisation aiming to increase the number of Labor women elected to parliament by providing financial, political, and personal support.

On 5 May 2001, Allison was the youngest person ever elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council. As the Member for Pembroke until 2009, Allison served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer from 2005 to 2008, and Minister for Planning and Workplace Relations in 2008. She was also the Southern Convenor of the Labor Women’s Network.

During her time in office, Allison self-funded an electorate office to provide direct service to her constituents and was instrumental in driving electoral reform, including improving access to democratic participation for people with disability and advocating for compulsory local government elections.

In December 2002, Allison became the first woman to give birth while a Member of the Legislative Council and lobbied the Howard and Rudd governments to introduce a national paid maternity leave scheme.

Allison founded People Protecting Children in 2009 to highlight issues relevant to child safety, achieve legislative and systematic change, and eradicate child abuse.

Since 2016, Allison has been the General Manager of Hobart Police and Community Youth Club (PCYC). She was also a long-term patron of the Clarence PCYC.

Allison has been active across various community organisations, including as inaugural President of Dementia Advocacy Tasmania, President of Boxing Australia (Tasmania), Assistant Secretary for Clarence RSL Women’s Auxiliary, Board Member of Oakdale Services Tasmania, and Patron for the Association for Children with Disability.

In October 2022, Allison was elected Deputy Mayor of the Clarence City Council.