Meet Melissa
Melissa was first elected to Parliament as the Member for Durack, the largest electorate in Australia, in 2013. Born and raised in the remote gold mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, she relished the opportunity to represent the diverse interests of a rural electorate that covers approximately half of the state of Western Australia.
A lawyer by profession before beginning her career as a politician, Melissa's legal career includes working for leading Australian law firm Clayton Utz. She has more than 20 years' experience in the private sector, working in a variety of commercial and legal roles. She maintained her connection to rural Australia through stints in regionally focused industries, including a legal and then business development role at the CBH Group.
During her first term, Melissa was appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture and Industry, Indigenous Affairs, and Infrastructure and Communications, and the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia. Melissa’s vast experience living and working in regional Australia proved a valuable insight during her time on all committees. Melissa is now Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Affairs, a Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and a Member of the Trade Subcommittee.
Her constituents recognised Melissa’s strong work ethic and dedication during her first term, and she was re-elected as the Member for Durack in July 2016. In December 2017, she was elevated to her first outer ministerial appointment in the role of Assistant Minister for the Environment. She continued in this role until August 2018, when she was sworn in as Minister for the Environment in the Morrison Government.
When the Coalition returned to government at the 2019 Federal election, Melissa was sworn in as Minister for Defence Industry. Then in October 2021, she was given the additional portfolio responsibilities of Minister for Science and Technology. Following the 2022 Federal election, Melissa served as Opposition Whip. She now holds the positions of Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Shadow Minister for Science, while continuing to represent the people of Durack.
Melissa has also spent time working with the not-for-profit sector. She is a former Director of both the Cancer Council (WA) and BrightSpark Foundation, and a passionate supporter of cancer and child health research.