Hon. Jaclyn Symes
Meet Jaclyn
After finishing year 12 and growing up in Benalla, Jaclyn moved to Melbourne in 1997 to undertake a Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University and was admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer in 2006. During her early career, Jaclyn worked as carer for people with intellectual disabilities. This experience made her acutely aware of the struggles that those with a disability experience daily and the importance of the Government putting in place the right policies to address their challenges. Following her time as a carer, Jaclyn was drawn to the union movement and took up a role with the Australian Services Union as an Industrial Officer.
To make a real difference, Jaclyn realised that she would need to influence policy. This led her to a role as an Advisor to the former Bracks/Brumby Labor Government working for the then Deputy Premier and Attorney General Rob Hulls. Following a change in Government in 2010, Jaclyn became Senior Legal and Justice Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, Daniel Andrews. At the November 2014 election, Jaclyn was elected to Parliament as a Member for Northern Victoria. After her re-election in the 2018 Victorian State Election, Jaclyn was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Resources and Deputy Leader of the Legislative Council. In 2019, Jaclyn became the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. She became the Attorney General in 2020 and the Minister for Emergency Services in 2021.
Jaclyn is passionate about social justice and hard work. She values ensuring equity, access to justice and believes in an individual’s opportunity to have a “fair go”. Jaclyn believes that good representation involves advocacy, action, activism, and accountability and she is passionate about building the strength of the Northern Victorian region, making positive changes for the residents in its many towns. Jaclyn is committed to supporting major projects, creating jobs for the future, and building stronger regional communities.
Ministries
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Attorney-General since December 2020
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Minister for Emergency Services since August 2021
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Minister for Resources December 2018 - August 2021
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Minister for Agriculture December 2018 - December 2020
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Minister for Regional Development December 2018 - December 2020
Position
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Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council since March 2020
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Deputy Leader of the Government December 2018 - March 2020
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Government Whip in the Legislative Council June 2015 - December 2018
Committee memberships
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Member, Dispute Resolution Committee since February 2023
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Member, Legislative Council Procedure Committee since February 2023
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Member, Legislative Council Privileges Committee April 2020 - November 2022
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Member, Legislative Council Procedure Committee March 2019 - November 2022
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Member, Dispute Resolution Committee February 2019 - November 2022
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Member, Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Committee April 2015 - October 2018
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Member, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee April 2015 - October 2018
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Member, Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee December 2014 - April 2015
Electorate
Northern Victoria
Leaflet map showing the electorate of Northern Victoria.
Other members for this area
Each region is made up of 11 districts, which have one member each.
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Jade Benham | Mildura | The Nationals
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Maree Edwards | Bendigo West | Australian Labor Party
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Peter Walsh | Murray Plains | The Nationals
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Mary-Anne Thomas | Macedon | Australian Labor Party
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Kim O'Keeffe | Shepparton | The Nationals
Allowances, budget and international travel reports
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2024–2025
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2023–2024
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2022–2023
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2021–2022
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2020–2021
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
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2019–2020
- Quarter 4 (Apr–Jun)
- Quarter 3 (Jan–Mar)
- Quarter 2 (Oct–Dec)
- Quarter 1 (Jul–Sep)
Register of Interests
Historical information
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29 November 2014 -
2014 - current -
19 December 2018
Electorate represented
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Northern Victoria since 29 November 2014
Party represented
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Australian Labor Party since 29 November 2014
Positions held
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Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council since 23 March 2020
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Deputy Leader of the Government 19 December 2018 - 22 March 2020
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Government Whip in the Legislative Council 1 June 2015 - 18 December 2018
Ministries held
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Minister for Emergency Services since 23 August 2021
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Attorney-General since 22 December 2020
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Minister for Resources 19 December 2018 - 23 August 2021
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Minister for Agriculture 19 December 2018 - 22 December 2020
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Minister for Regional Development 19 December 2018 - 22 December 2020
Committee membership history
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Member, Dispute Resolution Committee since 22 February 2023
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Member, Legislative Council Procedure Committee since 22 February 2023
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Member, Legislative Council Privileges Committee 23 April 2020 - 1 November 2022
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Member, Legislative Council Procedure Committee 21 March 2019 - 1 November 2022
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Member, Dispute Resolution Committee 4 February 2019 - 1 November 2022
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Member, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee 16 April 2015 - 30 October 2018
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Member, Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Committee 16 April 2015 - 30 October 2018
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Member, Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee 23 December 2014 - 16 April 2015
Electorate office
Contact the electorate office for matters about your community.
Phone
Ministerial office
Contact the ministerial office about this member's portfolio.