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Wendy Frances Fatin (born 10 April 1941), Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from Western Australia representing the Australian Labor Party in the Divisions of Canning (1983-1984) and Brand (1984-1996). Fatin is notable as being the first Western Australian woman to win a seat in that House. In 1962, she became a registered nurse and later attained a Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing) from the Western Australian Institute of Technology (WAIT). She was a strong advocate for women's issues and was one of the founders of the Women's Electoral Lobby in Western Australia. She served as a ministerial adviser to the Minister for Repatriation and Compensation and Minister for Social Security in 1974-1975. At the 1983 election, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Canning, winning the seat from the Liberals' Melville Bungey on a 9.1% swing. Following an electoral redistribution, she won the new seat of Brand at the 1984 election, holding it until her retirement in 1996. In April 1990, Fatin was appointed to the Hawke ministry as Minister for Local Government and Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women. In December 1991, she left Local Government and was appointed Minister for the Arts and Territories, retaining her Status of Women role. She stepped down from Cabinet after the 1993 election, and chose to retire from politics at the 1996 election, being succeeded in her seat by deputy prime minister Kim Beazley, who had moved from the marginal seat of Swan. Her advocacy work continued beyond her retirement, and she is an honorary life member of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance. |
