party office term_start article_title name alma_mater
australian labor party member of the victorian legislative council 25 november 2006 gayle tierney
 gayle tierney flinders university
gayle tierney

gayle anne tierney is an australian politician .
she has been an australian labor party member of the victorian legislative council since november 2006 , representing western victoria region .
tierney studied politics and asian studies at flinders university , before entering the trade union movement .
during the early 1980s she worked for australia asia worker links , promoting research and study tours in south korea , the philippines , japan and hong kong , focusing on union , human , indigenous and women 's rights in those countries , and encouraging australian companies active in asia to maintain proper standards of care .
following her period at aawl tierney was a federal industrial officer with the australian public service association and held that position until joining the vehicle builders union in 1989 .
tierney was the first woman to become state secretary of the traditionally male-dominated vehicle division of the automotive , metals and engineering union -lrb- now part of the australian manufacturing workers union -rrb- , serving in that role from 1993 to 2006 , and serving as its federal president from 2000 to 2006 .
tierney also served on the executive of the australian council of trade unions from 2000 to 2006 .
tierney entered politics ahead of the 2006 state election , winning the second position on the labor ticket for the reconstituted western victoria region , thus ensuring her election to parliament .
