About Simone
Simone is the State Labor Member for Fremantle, and the Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Community Services.
Simone is passionate about all things Fremantle, with a particular focus on quality public schools for local families, long-term transport planning, and the economic revitalisation of our port city.
As a Minister in the McGowan Labor Government, Simone is working to establish a whole-of-government approach to tackling the scourge of family and domestic violence, and is ensuring that our state invests in children during the critical early years to build stronger families and communities.
Simone has served as the Member for Fremantle since the 2013 State Election. During her first term, Simone worked with local schools to fight education cuts, campaigned with local residents to stop the ill-conceived Perth Freight Link, and worked across the community to tackle the challenges facing our town centre.
Simone has lived in Fremantle for over twenty years. Her partner Mark works in South Fremantle. On free weekends you will find them walking the dog down at South Beach, Manning Park, or the Growers’ Green Farmers’ Market in Beaconsfield.
Simone was raised by her single mother who worked while supporting her five children. Her father had multiple sclerosis and was a long-standing activist in the disability rights movement.
Prior to her election, Simone worked in the union movement for over 22 years. She was one of the first women elected to be an Organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, before being elected the Assistant State Secretary in 1997. She later worked with the union United Voice.
From 2007, Simone served as Assistant Secretary, and later Secretary, of Unions WA. There, she coordinated the Your Rights at Work Campaign against the Howard Government’s ‘Workchoices’ reforms, and campaigned for more local content and local jobs during WA’s mining boom.
Simone has also worked in Native Title for the Yamatji Land and Sea Council, and as a producer with the ABC.
Simone holds degrees in History from the University of Melbourne and Media from Murdoch University.