Wong, P

<a id="top" target="_self" href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407865/posts" style=" text-decoration: none;">Climate Change Minister Penny Wong battles to save Copenhagen summit after split ..(2nd walkout)</a>

<a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/%5Ehttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/wong-battles-in-climate-of-anger/story-e6frf7jo-1225810751758" target="_blank">Herald Sun (Au) ^</a> | December 16, 2009 | Mark Kenny

Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 6:07:09 AM by <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/%7Eirishmike/" title="Since 2006-01-06">IrishMike</a>

PENNY Wong was frantically trying to break a deadlock between rich and poor nations after the Copenhagen summit neared collapse after a second walkout by delegates. The Australian Climate Change Minister and an unnamed co-chair from the developing nations' forum, known as the G77, were trying to mend fences on the relative size of emissions cuts offered to poorer countries and how they could be verified internationally.

It is one of three major areas of disagreement.

The others are the level of emission reduction pledges by developed countries, and how much money will be provided for poor countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.

The new mechanism is an attempt to rescue the process after African delegates led another walkout on Monday, the second of the conference.

Senator Wong said she was "very pleased that negotiations have recommenced". "We've obviously still got an enormous amount of work to do," she added.

It was going to be very difficult to get to any agreement before world leaders including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrived in the Danish capital overnight. "But we're back in the ring and very pleased that negotiations have recommenced," she said.

A key stumbling block is the type of agreement likely to come out of the talks, with developing countries pushing for a continuation of the Kyoto Protocol arrangements, which required much more of the rich than poor nations in terms of cuts.

Poor nations argue the developed world owes a "carbon debt" to them because their prosperity came from freely polluting the atmosphere. They have therefore contributed more to global warming.

But ahead of the crucial leaders' meeting, there are fears an agreement may be beyond reach.

Senator Wong, working to keep the parties talking, said she welcomed the extra assistance the PM's arrival overnight.

(Excerpt) Read more at <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/wong-battles-in-climate-of-anger/story-e6frf7jo-1225810751758" target="_blank">heraldsun.com.au</a> ...

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lesbian joke in one of many bunker videos)

<a href="http://anhonestclimatedebate.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/penny-wong-admits-global-warming-is-a-lie/">http://anhonestclimatedebate.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/penny-wong-admits-global-warming-is-a-lie/</a>

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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong</a>

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<div id="jump-to-nav" class="mw-jump">Jump to: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#mw-head">navigation</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#p-search">search</a></div>

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<th colspan="2" class="n" style=" text-align: center; font-size: 125%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Senate" title="Australian Senate" class="mw-redirect">Senator</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Honourable" title="The Honourable">The Honourable</a>

Penny Wong</th>

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<th colspan="2" style=" background-color: lavender; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Senate" title="Australian Senate" class="mw-redirect">Australian Senator</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australia" title="South Australia">South Australia</a></th>

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<td colspan="2" style=" text-align: center; background-color: lavender;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent" title="Incumbent">Incumbent</a></td>

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<td colspan="2" style=" text-align: center;">Assumed office

1 July 2002</td>

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<th colspan="2" style=" background-color: lavender; text-align: center;">12th <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Finance_and_Deregulation_%28Australia%29" title="Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Australia)">Minister for Finance and Deregulation</a></th>

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<td colspan="2" style=" text-align: center; background-color: lavender;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incumbent" title="Incumbent">Incumbent</a></td>

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<td colspan="2" style=" text-align: center;">Assumed office

14 September 2010</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Prime Minister</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard" title="Julia Gillard">Julia Gillard</a></td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Preceded by</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Tanner" title="Lindsay Tanner">Lindsay Tanner</a></td>

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<th colspan="2" style=" background-color: lavender; text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Climate_Change_and_Energy_Efficiency_%28Australia%29" title="Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (Australia)">Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water</a></th>

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<td colspan="2" style=" border-bottom: none; text-align: center;">In office

3 December 2007 – 13 September 2010</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Prime Minister</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd" title="Kevin Rudd">Kevin Rudd</a>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard" title="Julia Gillard">Julia Gillard</a></td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Preceded by</th>

<td>position created</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Succeeded by</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Combet" title="Greg Combet">Greg Combet</a></td>

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<th colspan="2" style=" background-color: lavender; text-align: center;">Personal details</th>

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<td>Penelope Ying-yen Wong

5 November 1968 (age 44)

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kinabalu" title="Kota Kinabalu">Kota Kinabalu</a>, Sabah, Malaysia</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Nationality</th>

<td>Australian</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Political party</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Labor_Party" title="Australian Labor Party">Australian Labor Party</a></td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Domestic partner</th>

<td>Sophie Allouache</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Children</th>

<td>Alexandra</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Residence</th>

<td class="label">Australia</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_mater" title="Alma mater">Alma mater</a></th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Adelaide" title="University of Adelaide">University of Adelaide</a></td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Occupation</th>

<td>Politician

Barrister</td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Religion</th>

<td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Australia" title="Uniting Church in Australia">Uniting Church in Australia</a></td>

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<th style=" text-align: left;">Website</th>

<td><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.financeminister.gov.au/">www.financeminister.gov.au</a></td>

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Penelope "Penny" Ying-yen Wong<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-1">[1]</a> (born 5 November 1968), an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Senate" title="Australian Senate" class="mw-redirect">Australian senator</a> representing South Australia, is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Finance_and_Deregulation_%28Australia%29" title="Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Australia)">Commonwealth Minister for Finance and Deregulation</a>. Wong is a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Labor_Party" title="Australian Labor Party">Labor Party</a> and member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cabinet" title="Australian Cabinet" class="mw-redirect">Australian federal cabinet</a>.

Wong was the first Australian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Climate_Change_and_Water%28Australia%29" title="Minister for Climate Change and Water (Australia)" class="mw-redirect">Minister for Climate Change and Water</a>. Her appointment was amended on 26 February 2010, by the Prime Minister, to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_for_Climate_Change,Energy_Efficiency_and_Water_%28Australia%29" title="Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water (Australia)" class="mw-redirect">Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water</a>. This change in the Government's cabinet was brought about by the controversy of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Efficient_Homes_Package" title="Energy Efficient Homes Package">Home Insulation Program</a> (HIP).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-2">[2]</a> On 13 September 2010, she was sworn in as Minister for Finance and Deregulation in the Gillard Labor cabinet.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-3">[3]</a> She has been a member of the Australian Senate since 2002, representing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australia" title="South Australia">South Australia</a>.

Wong is the first Asian-born federal minister, as well as the first openly lesbian member of the Australian cabinet.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-4">[4]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-5">[5]</a> Before entering Parliament, Penny Wong was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrister" title="Barrister">barrister</a> and solicitor in Adelaide and an adviser to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Carr" title="Bob Carr">Carr Government</a> in New South Wales.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-6">[6]</a>

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<h2>Contents</h2>

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<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#Early_life">1 Early life</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#Career">2 Career</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#Personal_life">3 Personal life</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#External_links">5 External links</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#References">6 References</a></li>

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<h2>Early life</h2>

Wong was born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kinabalu" title="Kota Kinabalu">Kota Kinabalu</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabah" title="Sabah">Sabah</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a> to a Malaysian Chinese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka_people" title="Hakka people">Hakka</a> father and an Australian mother.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-7">[7]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-8">[8]</a> She moved to Australia at the age of eight with her mother and younger brother Toby, after her parents separated. Toby went on to become a chef in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide,_South_Australia" title="Adelaide, South Australia" class="mw-redirect">Adelaide, South Australia</a>.

Wong gained a scholarship to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_College,Adelaide" title="Scotch College, Adelaide">Scotch College, Adelaide</a> where she studied chemistry, physics and mathematics and was accepted into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Medicine,Bachelor_of_Surgery" title="Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery">Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery</a> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Adelaide" title="University of Adelaide">University of Adelaide</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-Kitchen_Cabint-9">[9]</a> After spending a year on exchange in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-FreakishPowers-10">[10]</a> Wong found she had an aversion to blood. She then studied and graduated with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts" title="Bachelor of Arts">Bachelor of Arts</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurisprudence" title="Jurisprudence">Jurisprudence</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Laws" title="Bachelor of Laws">Bachelor of Laws</a> with Honours at the University of Adelaide and completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_South_Australia" title="University of South Australia">University of South Australia</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-Kitchen_Cabint-9">[9]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-11">[11]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-12">[12]</a>

When she was 18, Wong took over the control of the Adelaide University Labor Club.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-13">[13]</a> While at university, she worked part-time for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction,Forestry,Mining_and_Energy_Union" title="Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union">Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union</a>. Wong also became involved in political activism at university, winning a position on the National Executive of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_of_Students_of_Australia" title="National Union of Students of Australia" class="mw-redirect">National Union of Students</a>. Wong has been a delegate to the South Australian Labor Party State Convention every year since 1989, with the exception of 1995.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-14">[14]</a> Her time at university was one where a substantial number of contemporaries became Australian politicians. Former senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Stott_Despoja" title="Natasha Stott Despoja">Natasha Stott Despoja</a> was a contemporary, along with current <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_of_South_Australia" title="Premier of South Australia">Premier of South Australia</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Weatherill" title="Jay Weatherill">Jay Weatherill</a> whom Wong dated while at university.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-Kitchen_Cabint-9">[9]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-FreakishPowers-10">[10]</a>

<h2>Career</h2>

Wong graduated from university in 1992. She continued her association with the CFMEU as an industrial officer. She was admitted to the South Australian Bar in 1993.

During 1995 and 1996, Wong acted as an advisor to the timber union and the newly-elected <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Carr" title="Bob Carr">New South Wales state government</a>, specialising in the area of forest policy in the middle of the fierce 1990s environmental battles over logging in NSW.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-15">[15]</a>

On returning to Adelaide, Wong began practising law, working as a solicitor at the firm Duncan and Hannon between 1996 and 1999. From 1999 to 2002, Wong worked as a legal officer with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquor,_Hospitality_and_Miscellaneous_Union" title="Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union" class="mw-redirect">Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union</a>. During this time, she also won a position on the ALP's state executive.

During her legal career (between 1996 and 2002), Wong appeared 11 times before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Industrial_Relations_Commission" title="Australian Industrial Relations Commission">Australian Industrial Relations Commission</a>, 15 times before the South Australian Industrial Relations Court, 8 times before the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission, 3 times before the South Australian Workers Compensation Appeal Tribunal and 10 times before the South Australian Workers Compensation Tribunal.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-16">[16]</a>

Wong ran for pre-selection for the Senate in 2001, and was selected for the top position on the Labor Party's South Australian ticket. Wong is a member of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMILY%27s_List_Australia" title="EMILY's List Australia">EMILY's List Australia</a>, the support network for Labor women, and, until her appointment as a minister following the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2007" title="Australian federal election, 2007">2007 election</a>, sat on a number of Senate committees, primarily those related to economics.

In June 2005, Wong was appointed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_Minister" title="Shadow Minister" class="mw-redirect">Shadow Minister</a> for Employment and Workforce Participation and Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility. Following the reshuffle in December 2006, she became responsible for the portfolios of Public Administration and Accountability, Corporate Governance and Responsibility, and Workforce Participation.

In November 2007, in the wake of the Labor Party victory in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2007" title="Australian federal election, 2007">2007 election</a>, Wong was appointed Minister for Climate Change and Water. As a result of this promotion, she is the highest ranked politician representing South Australia. She accompanied then Prime Minister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd" title="Kevin Rudd">Kevin Rudd</a> to Bali for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference" title="2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference">international climate change talks</a>. Wong led final negotiations as Chair of the United Nations Working Group in the closing days of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference" title="2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference">United Nations Climate Change Conference</a> in December 2007,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-17">[17]</a> shortly after her appointment as Minister for Climate Change and Water.

In September 2010, Prime Minister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard" title="Julia Gillard">Julia Gillard</a> announced Wong had been promoted to succeed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Tanner" title="Lindsay Tanner">Lindsay Tanner</a> as Minister for Finance and Deregulation.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-GillardMinistrySep10-18">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-19">[19]</a>

<h2>Personal life</h2>

Penny Wong is lesbian, and was the first sitting member of the Australian Labor Party to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_out" title="Coming out">come out</a> while still in parliament.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-20">[20]</a> Her partner, Sophie Allouache, a public servant and former University of Adelaide Students' Association president, attended her swearing-in ceremony along with Wong's mother, Jane Chapman. Although her father remains overseas, they keep in touch.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-FreakishPowers-10">[10]</a> In December 2011, Allouache gave birth to their first child, Alexandra,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-21">[21]</a> after announcing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_fertilisation" title="In vitro fertilisation">IVF</a>-assisted pregnancy using donor sperm in August 2011.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-22">[22]</a>

In 2010, Wong was selected by readers of samesame.com.au as one of the 25 most influential lesbian Australians.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-23">[23]</a> Wong is a practising Christian,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Wong#cite_note-FreakishPowers-10">[10]</a> attending Pilgrim <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Australia" title="Uniting Church in Australia">Uniting Church</a> in Adelaide.

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudd_Ministry" title="Rudd Ministry">Rudd Ministry</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Gillard_Ministry" title="First Gillard Ministry">First Gillard Ministry</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Gillard_Ministry" title="Second Gillard Ministry">Second Gillard Ministry</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>External links</h2>

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<td class="mbox-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Penny_Wong" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Penny Wong">Penny Wong</a></td>

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<ul>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/labor-people/penny-wong/">Official ALP website biography</a></li>

<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/TranslateWIPILink.aspx?Folder=BIOGS&Criteria=NAME_ID:00AOU%3B">Penny Wong Senate Biography</a></li>

</ul>

<h2>References</h2>

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