Cathrine Burnett-Wake

Cathrine Mary Burnett-Wake is a former Australian politician, who was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Eastern Victoria Region representing the Liberal Party between December 2021 and November 2022. Burnett-Wake was appointed by a joint sitting of the Victorian Parliament on 2 December 2021 to fill a vacancy brought about by the resignation of Edward O'Donohue.^[1] She is the first Liberal female upper house member for Eastern Victoria.^[2]

Cathrine Burnett-Wake MLC
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Eastern Victoria Region
In office 2 December 2021 – 26 November 2022
Preceded by	Edward O'Donohue
Succeeded by	Renee Heath
Personal details
Political party	Liberal Party

Prior to entering the Victorian Parliament, Burnett-Wake was a local government councillor for Yarra Ranges Shire between October 2020 and November 2021, representing the Streeton Ward.^[3][4] She also worked as principal migration agent for Harris Wake, a legal and migration firm she co-founded with Owen Harris.^[5] Burnett-Wake sits on the boards of the Burrinja Cultural Centre and the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action.^[6]

In July 2022, Burnett-Wake lost preselection to Renee Heath for the 2022 state election.^[7][8]

In her final speech in parliament, Burnett-Wake called on "ordinary people" to "awaken" to extremist political candidates. Burnett-Wake referred to the 'taking over' of Liberal Party branches in Gippsland by right-wing church groups and told the parliament she was concerned about infiltration of the Liberal party by people with "extremist" views - widely interpreted as a reference to Heath.^[9]

In February 2023, Burnett-Wake announced that she would run for Liberal preselection for the 2023 Aston by-election.^[10][11] She was unsuccessful in gaining preselection losing out to Roshena Campbell.

References

1. "Legislative Assembly Daily Hansard" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. 2 December 2021. p. 130. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
2. Symons, Bec. "Ousted Liberal Party MP Cathrine Burnett-Wake condemns extremists in politics". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
3. Hui, Jin (8 November 2021). "Councillor Burnett-Wake resigns from Yarra Ranges Council". Lilydale Star Mail. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
4. "Yarra Ranges Councillor resigns following appointment to Upper House". Yarra Ranges Council. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
5. Murphy, Susan (6 November 2016). "From celebrities to refugees, human element makes migration work rewarding". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
6. Smethurst, Annika (6 November 2021). "Federal Liberals accused of 'undermining' Guy as female team grows". The Age. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
7. "Victorian Liberal Party branch stacking claims as Pentecostal church 'infiltrates' branches". ABC News. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
8. "New Victorian Liberal Candidate's Link To 'Right-Wing' Christian Church Raised Concerns". Star Observer. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
9. https://amp.abc.net.au/article/101463452
10. https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/ousted-victorian-mp-in-bid-to-run-in-byelection-triggered-by-alan-tudges-resignation/news-story/a74a1f50ede498c6e8e260a0d9b8d3ac
11. https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/aston-byelection-cathrine-burnettwake-seeks-liberal-candidacy-for-alan-tudges-outer-melbourne-seat-after-his-resignation/news-story/9351f8f0b31c77074a0d26c8b7da7188

Victorian Legislative Council
Preceded by Edward O'Donohue	Member for Eastern Victoria Region 2021–2022	Succeeded by Renee Heath