Rosemary Anne Crowley

With a background in medicine and health, Crowley served a number of roles in hospitals and clinics in Melbourne and Adelaide between 1962 and 1983. During this time Crowley began her involvement with the Australian Labor Party (ALP), for which she served as President of its Mitcham and Unley Branches, a member of its State Executive in South Australia, a delegate of its State Council, and as member of a host of other state and national committees.

Elected in 1983, Crowley was the first South Australian female Australian Labor Party (ALP) senator to serve in federal parliament. Crowley served on a number of Senate Committees, including:

• the Standing Committee on the Scrutiny of Bills (1983-1993);
• the Senate Estimates Committee B (1983-1987);
• the Senate Select Committee on Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (1983-1987);
• the Caucus Welfare Committee (1984-);
• the Senate Select Committee on Inquiry into the Conduct of a Judge (1984); and
• the Joint Statutory committee on the National Crime Authority (1984-1987).

During the time of the Keating Government, Crowley served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women in 1993 and the Minister for Family Services from 1993 to 1996.

Due to age restrictions for pre-selection for ALP candidates, Crowley did not contest the 2001 federal election and subsequently retired from Parliament on 30 June 2002.