Verity Firth
Verity Firth grew up in Glebe, where she continues to live with her husband Matthew and daughter April. She attended North Sydney Girls High School then the University of Sydney, where she completed an Arts/Law degree.
After University, Verity worked for Anthony Albanese MP for a short time, then practiced as an industrial lawyer with the firm Slater and Gordon. She worked in the area of workers compensation and asbestos litigation.
In March 2004, Verity was elected as a Councillor on City of Sydney Council, where she also served a year as the Deputy Mayor. Whilst on Council, her priorities were working to address the childcare shortage in the inner city, and supporting and nurturing the creative arts in the city.
Verity was elected as the State Member for Balmain in March 2007. The seat of Balmain was a new one, following the redistribution and renaming of the former seat of Port Jackson. She was elevated to the Ministry, and is currently the Minister for Education and Training.
"As the Member for Balmain, I am committed to working with residents to achieve the best possible outcomes for our local area.
The inner west is an active and involved community, which is one of the things I love most about the electorate. No matter your interest, there is sure to be others working on a project you can get involved in.
The electorate is an area in transition - moving from an industrial, working history to a contemporary residential area that still values and treasures its past. Being so close to the city, we face the pressures of infrastructure development and improvement, residential infill and the changing use of our harbour - but this provides us with great opportunities to shape the future of the area we live in.
Working together with the community, I hope to see our area move through this transition to remain a vibrant and exciting place to live, but still with the local village communities that we love."
My priorities for the area include:
- Excellent public transport, to help ease road congestion and help our environment,
- Opening up more of our foreshore for public access,
- Enhancing the opportunities for open space and recreational facilities; and
- Supporting and working with the local school communities to deliver excellent education for our children and young people."
"Providing quality education for all children is one of the NSW Government's most important responsibilities.
As the Minister for Education and Training, it is not a responsibility I take lightly. I believe that education is the great equaliser - it allows our young people to achieve whatever goals they have in life, regardless of their background."
Interested in Verity's Speeches?
You may follow these links to Verity's Inaugural Parliamentary Speech, or view all of Verity's Parliamentary Speeches at the Parliament of New South Wales website.
