20-year milestone for McIntyre MLC

McIntyre MLC Tania Rattra will next week mark 20 years in the role alongside her Electorate Officer Melissa Partridge.

May 8, 2024

The State’s longest-serving current MLC Tania Rattray will next week celebrate a major milestone.

Ms Rattray, the Independent Member for McIntyre, will notch up 20 years on the red carpet of the Legislative Council when Parliament returns following the recent election.

She has four years remaining in the role after being re-elected for a fourth term in 2022 and she then plans to step away from the political landscape that has dominated her life.

Her dad, Colin, had previously served two terms as Apsley MLC before retiring. 

Ms Rattray was the Dorset Deputy Mayor when she decided to run for the role her father vacated, winning Apsley. The name of her division was changed to McIntyre in 2017 following an electoral boundary redistribution.

“Not only did dad encourage me but my employer at the time, Steve Love from Galloways Pharmacy had a big interest in politics and he said I had to do it,” Ms Rattray said. “He was a wonderful influence and supporter.”

It has been a long and enjoyable journey for the former Winnaleah and Scottsdale High School student and by her side the entire time has been her electoral officer and friend Melissa Partridge.

“They used to joke that the Legislative Council was the retirement home for old Mayors. It has changed a lot in the 20 years I have been there,” she said.

“There have been 23 members leave in the time I have been there.

“When I first started I was inspired by Tony Fletcher, the Member for Murchison, who was serving the last part of his fourth term. He was a great orator and I wanted to soak up everything he had to say in the Chamber and my goal at the time was to achieve his longevity.

“It’s been an overwhelming journey.

“Every sitting is different and if I come up against issues that I might not have a huge understanding of I take the time to talk to people who I value their input.”

Said she was really proud of achievements made on various committees, including the review into gaming reform and the establishment of a TasWater enquiry.

“I feel the most difficult vote was early in my career in 2005 where the Labor Government of the day were progressing a transfer of Crown Land to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Council,” she said.

“As the representative of the Furneaux Islands where a large parcel of land on
Cape Barren Island was part of the land to be transferred, the Island’s communities were not fully supportive. Following extensive discussions with my community, I opposed the transfer with the Bill at the time being passed in the house.

“The most challenging time I experienced during my 20-year tenure was the 2017 electoral boundary redistribution by an independent panel proposing taking
the electorate of Apsley away, combining half the area in to two new electorates, which are now McIntyre and Prosser. 

“Losing 12,000 of your constituents with the stroke of a pen and gaining 15,000 new constituents from a whole new but still large area was difficult to embrace at the time.  

“As they say ‘it is what it is’ and I embraced the new electorate which thankfully still comprised of my home base.

“The privilege of this role is never lost on me and I look forward to continuing to represent the people of McIntyre.”