The Hon. Verity Firth MP Minister for Education and Training

Biography

Verity lives in Glebe with her husband Matthew and daughter April.

She previously worked as a lawyer for the respected national firm Slater & Gordon, and has practised in asbestos litigation, workers compensation and industrial law.

She has also served on the boards of both the Law and Justice Foundation - an organisation dedicated to improving access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged Australians – and Aidwatch, a campaigning body that monitors the flow of Australian aid overseas.

In March 2007, Verity was elected the State Member for Balmain. She was elevated to the Cabinet immediately, and since then has held several ministries including Women, Science and Medical Research, Health (Cancer), as well as Climate Change and the Environment.

Verity is currently the Minister for Education and Training.

Verity has introduced major reforms in each of her portfolio areas:

As Minister for Education and Training, Verity has overseen the biggest reform to school leaving age legislation since the 1940s, raising the leaving age to 17.  She has also been working in partnership with the Federal Government to deliver the biggest school infrastructure upgrade in NSW history – more than $3 billion worth of new halls, libraries, science labs and classrooms.

As Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Verity established the landmark $150m Energy Efficiency Strategy, the first of its kind in Australia. The Strategy will drive down carbon emissions by ensuring straightforward energy saving measures are implemented state-wide in homes, schools and businesses.

As Minister for Women, Verity restructured NSW Domestic Violence services, to ensure police, health and support services are integrated and accessible to women and families in need. She also secured an extra $2.9m in annual funding for anti-violence programs.

As Minister for Science and Medical Research, Verity oversaw the historic passage of the stem cell research enabling legislation, and the creation of a new research fund to foster work in that field. Verity also secured numerous funding commitments for medical research infrastructure development, including $20 million to establish the National Institute for Virology at Darlinghurst and $10 million to develop the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute.

As Assistant Health Minister (Cancer), Verity pushed through a radical anti-smoking package that will make NSW one of the toughest jurisdictions in the world for tobacco marketing, including by moving all tobacco products out of sight of children in retail outlets.