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Roshena Campbell is an Australian barrister and politician who is currently the Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne since 2024 and has served as a member of the City of Melbourne council since 2020. Campbell unsuccessfully contested the Division of Aston for the Liberal Party of Australia in the 2023 by-election.
Roshena Campbell | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2024 | |
| Mayor | Nicholas Reece |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Reece |
| Councillor of the City of Melbourne | |
| Assumed office 24 October 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Team Nick Reece (2024-) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (2023) Team Sally Capp (2020) |
| Spouse | James Campbell |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Brunswick, Victoria |
| Alma mater | The University of Melbourne (LLM) Monash University (LLB (Hons)/BA) |
| Occupation | Barrister, politician |
Campbell's parents migrated from India to Sydney, New South Wales in the 1970s.[1] Speaking on her upbringing, Campbell stated that her parents were small business owners who supported the Liberal premiership of John Howard and the tenure of Peter Costello as Treasurer.[2]
At age 17, Campbell moved to Melbourne by herself.[3] She attended the Monash University Faculty of Law, and also the University of Melbourne where she received a Master of Law degree in 2010.[2]
After graduating from Monash University, Campbell worked for leading commercial law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth.[4] She went on to become a commercial and public law barrister in 2016.[2] Campbell was elected a City of Melbourne councillor in the 2020 election. She was among the members of the council elected in alliance with Sally Capp.[5]
As a councillor, Campbell has criticised what she calls "anti-car measures". In September 2022, Campbell stood down from her position as deputy chair of the council's transport portfolio after criticising the City of Melbourne's bike lane rollout. Campbell argued the bike lane rollout was increasing traffic congestion and stunting the CBD’s economic recovery.[6]
Campbell has been a vocal opponent of a drug injecting room in the City of Melbourne.[7]
In 2021 Campbell became a regular contributor to The Age.[8]
In 2024, Campbell was the running mate of Nicholas Reece who was contesting the role of Lord Mayor at the 2024 Melbourne City Council election. They were successful, defeating 10 other party tickets after preferences.
2021 parliamentary selection effort
In 2021, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported that Campbell who had been considered a potential Senate preselection candidate instead sought preselection for the Division of Casey in the 2022 federal election. The AFR reported that journalist and former Liberal staffer James Campbell, the husband of the candidate, supported her pre-selection and became the primary carer of their children during the preselection period.[9]
2023 Aston by-election
In 2023, Campbell contested the Division of Aston in a 2023 by-election following the resignation of Liberal MP Alan Tudge.[10] Campbell was selected as the Liberal candidate by the state party's administration committee, defeating preselection candidates oncologist Ranjana Srivastava and former Liberal MP Cathrine Burnett-Wake. During the selection process, Campbell received the support of former MP and Treasurer of Australia Josh Frydenberg.[11][12]
Had Campbell won, she would have made history as the first woman of Indian descent to serve as a Liberal member of parliament.[13] Campbell ultimately lost the by-election to Mary Doyle, the candidate of the Labor Party.[14] During her concession speech, Campbell stated that "I will always be proud to be a Liberal and I will always be proud to be Australian because we live in the greatest country in the world."[15]
Campbell is married to News Corporation political editor James Campbell and is the mother of 4 children.[3][16] Campbell resides in Brunswick, Victoria.[1]
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