# Caitlin Collins

Caitlin Mary Collins (born 22 July 1988) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since the 2021 state election, representing Hillarys. Prior to her election, Collins taught politics and history at local High Schools, including Scotch College.
Previously, she contested the 2017 state election in then-Premier Colin Barnett's seat of Cottesloe.

## 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. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2010 with a BA, majoring in history, politics and international relations. She lives in Padbury with her partner Jack, and their dog Lenny.

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

## Political career

Collins was endorsed as Labor candidate for the seat of Hillarys in July 2020. In her election campaigns, she received mentoring from New South Wales politician, Rose Jackson, through EMILY's List Australia.
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.
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.
Collins was re-elected in the 2025 Western Australian state election.

### 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.
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 :
| Party | 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 | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 25,518 | 97.0 | +0.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 802 | 3.0 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 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 | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +19.3 | |

### 2017 State Election

2017 Western Australian state election: Cottesloe :
| Party | 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 | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 23,405 | 96.6 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 819 | 3.4 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 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 | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.8 | |