Penny Sharpe

The Hon. (Penny) Penelope Gail SHARPE, MLC

House:

Legislative Council

Party:

Australian Labor Party

Ministry:

Minister for Climate ChangeMinister for EnergyMinister for the EnvironmentMinister for Heritage

Office:

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Terms of service expires:

58th Parliament (05 Mar 2027)

Contact details

Member of the Legislative Council

AddressThe Hon. Penny Sharpe MLC, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Parliamentary activity

Information about members' parliamentary activity including links to speeches made in parliament, notice tracking, questions tracking, positions held and biography.

Current positions
PositionStartNotes
Member, Procedure Committee Wed 24 May 2023
Minister for Energy Thu 06 April 2023
Minister for Climate Change Thu 06 April 2023
Minister for the Environment Thu 06 April 2023
Minister for Heritage Thu 06 April 2023
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Tue 28 March 2023
Member of the NSW Legislative Council Wed 06 May 2015Elected to vacancy caused by her resignation.
Prior positions
PositionStartEndPeriodNotes
Minister for the Environment Tue 28 March 2023Thu 06 April 202310 days
Minister for Heritage Tue 28 March 2023Thu 06 April 202310 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council Tue 28 March 2023Wed 05 April 20239 days
Substitute Member, Standing Committee on State Development Mon 23 January 2023Mon 27 February 20231 month 5 daysAllegations of impropriety against agents of the City of Canterbury Bankstown Council
Substitute Member, Standing Committee on State Development Mon 19 December 2022Thu 19 January 20231 month 1 dayAllegations of impropriety against agents of the City of Canterbury Bankstown Council
Shadow Minister for Heritage Mon 15 August 2022Tue 28 March 20237 months 14 days
Member, Select Committee on the Response to Major Flooding across New South Wales in 2022, Response to major flooding across New South Wales in 2022 Sun 10 April 2022Tue 09 August 20224 months
Deputy Chair, Select Committee on the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Bill 2021, Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Bill 2021 Thu 25 November 2021Tue 22 February 20222 months 29 days
Member, Select Committee on the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Bill 2021, Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Bill 2021 Tue 23 November 2021Tue 22 February 20223 months
Member, Select Committee on Floodplain Harvesting, Floodplain harvesting Wed 30 June 2021Wed 15 December 20215 months 16 days
Member, Portfolio Committee No. 1 - Premier and Finance Mon 21 June 2021Fri 03 March 20231 year 8 months 11 days
Shadow Minister for Environment Sat 12 June 2021Tue 28 March 20231 year 9 months 17 days
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Tue 08 June 2021Tue 28 March 20231 year 9 months 21 days
Member, Select Committee on the coronial jurisdiction in New South Wales, Coronial jurisdiction in New South Wales Thu 06 May 2021Fri 29 April 202211 months 24 days
Member, Select Committee on the High Level of First Nations People in Custody and Oversight and Review of Deaths in Custody Thu 18 June 2020Thu 15 April 20219 months 29 daysHigh level of First Nations people in custody and oversight and review of deaths in custody
Substitute Member, Portfolio Committee No. 4 - Regional NSW Thu 26 September 2019Mon 21 October 201926 daysRight to Farm Bill 2019
Member, Procedure Committee Wed 03 July 2019Fri 03 March 20233 years 8 months 1 day
Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Wed 03 July 2019Fri 14 May 20211 year 10 months 12 days
Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion Wed 03 July 2019Fri 14 May 20211 year 10 months 12 days
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Tue 02 July 2019Fri 14 May 20211 year 10 months 13 days
Member, Select Committee on the Proposal to Raise the Warragamba Dam Wall, Proposal to Raise the Warragamba Dam Wall Thu 27 June 2019Fri 03 March 20233 years 8 months 5 days
Member, Portfolio Committee No. 7 - Planning and Environment Wed 15 May 2019Fri 03 March 20233 years 9 months 17 days
Leader of the Opposition Mon 25 March 2019Tue 02 July 20193 months 8 days
Shadow Minister for Trade Tue 27 November 2018Wed 03 July 20197 months 7 days
Deputy Leader of the NSW Labor Party Sat 10 November 2018Mon 25 March 20194 months 16 days
Member, Portfolio Committee No. 6 - Planning and Environment Thu 20 July 2017Fri 01 March 20191 year 7 months 10 days
Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage Thu 10 March 2016Wed 03 July 20193 years 3 months 24 days
Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Thu 10 March 2016Tue 27 November 20182 years 8 months 18 days
Member, Standing Committee on Social Issues Thu 14 May 2015Fri 01 March 20193 years 9 months 16 days
Member, Portfolio Committee No. 5 – Industry and Transport Thu 14 May 2015Thu 20 July 20172 years 2 months 7 days
Shadow Minister for Heritage Thu 09 April 2015Thu 10 March 201611 months 2 days
Shadow Minister for Planning Thu 09 April 2015Thu 10 March 201611 months 2 days
Shadow Minister for the Environment Thu 09 April 2015Thu 10 March 201611 months 2 days
Member, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 3 Wed 22 June 2011Thu 05 March 20153 years 8 months 12 days
Member, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4 Wed 18 May 2011Wed 22 June 20111 month 5 days
Member, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 4 Thu 24 June 2010Fri 04 March 20118 months 9 days
Parliamentary Secretary Wed 06 January 2010Mon 28 March 20111 year 2 months 23 days
Parliamentary Secretary Tue 23 September 2008Fri 04 December 20091 year 2 months 12 days
Member, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1 Thu 10 May 2007Thu 24 June 20103 years 1 month 15 days
Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Minister for Energy, and the Minister for Mineral Resources Tue 08 May 2007Fri 05 September 20081 year 3 months 29 days
Member, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1 Thu 08 June 2006Fri 02 March 20078 months 23 daysIn place of Mr Donnelly
Member, Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Mon 29 May 2006Fri 02 March 20079 months 3 daysIn place of Ms Fazio.
Temporary Chair, Committees Tue 23 May 2006Fri 02 March 20079 months 8 days
Member, Committee for Children and Young People Wed 05 April 2006Fri 02 March 200710 months 26 days
Temporary Chair, Committees Thu 02 March 2006Fri 19 May 20062 months 18 days
Member, Legislation Review Committee Thu 17 November 2005Fri 02 March 20071 year 3 months 14 days
Member, Privileges Committee Thu 17 November 2005Fri 02 March 20071 year 3 months 14 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Council Tue 11 October 2005Thu 05 March 20159 years 4 months 23 daysElected for the balance of the term of service of Hon. CM Tebbutt (resigned).
Biography

Personal information

Penny Sharpe was first elected to the NSW Legislative Council in October 2005. Penny is currently Labor's Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Heritage and the Environment, as well as the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. 
 


In the previous Parliament Penny was Labor's Shadow Minister for the Environment, Disability Inclusion and Family and Community Services. 


In the previous Labor Government, Penny was a Parliamentary Secretary across a number of portfolios including Transport, Roads, Mining and Energy.


Prior to entering Parliament Penny was a policy advisor in the areas of Vocational Education & Training, Community Services, Homelessness, Drug & Alcohol, Juvenile Justice and Young People. She worked for several years developing partnerships across NSW between schools, businesses and communities to provide workplace learning for young people.


Penny's policy interests include public transport, the environment, education, women, LGBTI reform and e democracy.


Penny has previously been a foster carer for young women. She has three children.

Additional information

First speech, 16 November 2005:

Hon Penny Sharpe - Inaugural speech (pdf, 31.59 KB)

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