Andrea Dawkins

Awarded for service to community, advocacy and inclusion; government and public services

Born: 20 February 1965

Entered on roll: 2023

"Focuses on social programs and advancing diverse people"

Andrea Dawkins is passionate about improving lives and providing a voice for marginalised Tasmanians and animals. Andrea has championed policies to ensure that people should not be discriminated against for any reason – including gender and sexual diversity.

Andrea successfully owned and operated a small business for 20 years and was committed to delivering improved business for economic and environmental sustainability. Her passion for the local food economy led to the development of Fresh, in Launceston, a hybrid social enterprise business linking community interests into a vibrant social network of ideas and shared resources.

In 2014, Andrea was elected to the Launceston City Council. From 2015 to 2018, Andrea was the Greens Member for Bass in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. As a parliamentarian Andrea argued for the decriminalisation of consensual adult sex work and access to abortions within the public health system.

After State Parliament, Andrea was re-elected to the Launceston City Council. Both in Local and State Government, Andrea championed the cause of animal welfare. After leaving State Parliament, Andrea’s day job was working for the RSPCA. Her leadership led to the City of Launceston opening Australia’s first council operated off-leash area for greyhounds. Andrea also continued to work to address the impacts of family violence, through her leadership in programs such as the RSPCA’s ‘Safe Beds’, emergency boarding of pets for families leaving family violence and experiencing homelessness.

At the 2022 International Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) Awards, the City of Launceston was recognised for Andrea’s motion and subsequent policy to phase out single-use plastics in council businesses and sponsored events by 2022. The success of this motion was based on Andrea’s ability to build shared values among Councillors and secure buy-in from stakeholders.