Caitlin Collins

For the American journalist, see Kaitlan Collins.

Caitlin Mary Collins (born 22 July 1988)^[1] is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since the 2021 state election, representing Hillarys.^[2][3] Prior to her election, Collins taught politics and history at local High Schools, including Scotch College.

Caitlin Collins MLA
Caitlin Collins at Bambara Primary School during the 2021 WA State Election.
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Hillarys
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 March 2021
Preceded by	Peter Katsambanis
Personal details
Born	Caitlin Mary Collins (1988-07-22) 22 July 1988 (age 36) Aberdeen, Scotland
Political party	Labor
Website	www.caitlincollins.com.au

Previously, she contested the 2017 state election in then-Premier Colin Barnett's seat of Cottesloe.^[4]

Personal life

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 22 July 1988, Collins migrated to Australia, arriving in Victoria in 1992 and then moving to Perth, Western Australia in 1996.^[1] She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010 with a BA, majoring in history, politics and international relations.^[5] She lives in Padbury with her partner Jack, and their dog Lenny.^[6]

Early career

Collins studied history, politics and international relations at Notre Dame in Fremantle then pursued a teaching qualification in order to share her passion for civics.^[6]

She has taught extensively in India, Colombia and Vietnam and completed a parliamentary internship in Ireland.^[6] In her inaugural speech, she raised the issues of climate action, youth mental health and the power of education.^[7]

Political career

Collins was endorsed as Labor candidate for the seat of Hillarys in July 2020.^[8] In her election campaigns, she received mentoring from New South Wales politician, Rose Jackson, through EMILY's List Australia.^[9]

At the 2021 election Collins gained one of the largest swings in the entire state, 19.3% as was elected as the first Labor Member to Hillarys since Pamela Beggs held the predecessor seat of Whitfords from 1983-1993.^[10]

Collins is the 100th woman elected to the Western Australian Parliament being sworn in 100 years after the election of Edith Cowan, the first woman elected to any Parliament in Australia.^[1]

Parliamentary appointments

Collins was appointed as a member of the Education and Health Standing Committee from 12 May 2021 and as an Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 11 May 2022 to 13 June 2023.^[1]

Collins was appointed as Secretary of the State Parliamentary Labor Party from 14 February 2023.

Election Results

2021 State Election

2021 Western Australian state election: Hillarys^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Caitlin Collins	15,671	61.4	+28.1
	Liberal	Peter Katsambanis	6,900	27.0	−11.0
	Greens	Greg Glazov	1,366	5.4	−3.9
	Legalise Cannabis	Katrina Winfield	582	2.3	+2.3
	No Mandatory Vaccination	W. Seeto	476	1.9	+1.9
	Liberals for Climate	Rick Tylka	339	1.3	+1.3
	WAxit	Zoran Jankulovski	184	0.7	+0.5
Total formal votes			25,518	97.0	+0.9
Informal votes			802	3.0	−0.9
Turnout			26,320	88.1	−0.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Caitlin Collins	17,597	69.0	+19.3
	Liberal	Peter Katsambanis	7,919	31.0	−19.3
	Labor gain from Liberal		Swing	+19.3

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 Western Australian state election (Legislative Assembly) § Hillarys.[edit]

2017 State Election

2017 Western Australian state election: Cottesloe^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Colin Barnett	13,264	56.7	−8.1
	Labor	Caitlin Collins	5,280	22.6	+10.4
	Greens	Greg Boland	2,826	12.1	+1.8
	Independent	Alida Lancee	1,332	5.7	+5.7
	Christians	Riaan Groenewald	226	1.0	−0.3
	Micro Business	Nicole Poppas	198	0.8	+0.8
		Michael Watson	176	0.8	+0.8
	Independent	Dmitry Malov	103	0.4	+0.4
Total formal votes			23,405	96.6	+0.1
Informal votes			819	3.4	−0.1
Turnout			24,224	88.4	+0.1
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Colin Barnett	14,799	63.3	−7.8
	Labor	Caitlin Collins	8,590	36.7	+7.8
	Liberal hold		Swing	−7.8

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2017 Western Australian state election (Legislative Assembly) § Cottesloe.[edit]

References

1. "Ms Caitlin Mary Collins MLA BA (Hons), DipEd". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
2. "The WA election's biggest losers form a long blue line as Liberals reel from devastating loss". ABC News. 14 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
3. Burton, Jesinta (13 March 2021). "Hillarys key marginal in the north". Business News. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
4. "2017 State General Election: Cottesloe District Profile". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
5. "Challenging the Political Status Quo". In Principio: 25. August 2017.
6. "About Caitlin". caitlincollins.com.au. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
7. "Caitlin Collins Inaugural Speech" (PDF). 19 August 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2021.
8. Brown, Tyler (21 July 2020). "Labor reveals Hillarys candidate". Joondalup Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
9. "2021 Western Australia Election Candidates". EMILY's List Australia. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
10. "WA Election 2021". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
11. 2021 State General Election – Hillarys District Results, WAEC
12. Cottesloe District Profile and Results, 2017 State General Election, WAEC.

Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Peter Katsambanis	Member for Hillarys 2021–present	Incumbent