Penny Wong is an Australian politician who was born in Malaysia. She is the Opposition Leader in the Australian Senate right now. She was born in Malaysia, but when her parents split up, she moved to Adelaide, Australia. She finished high school and went to the University of Adelaide, where she got a degree in Law and Arts with honors. After she got her degree, she worked for trade unions and took part in campaigns to improve the members’ pay and living conditions. She got into politics when she was elected to the Senate for the Australian Labor Party. When she became the first woman to be named Leader of the Government in Senate, she became well-known around the world. She has told everyone that she is a lesbian in the open. She has shown that she is a good politician who knows a lot about many different things, such as economics, the environment, gender equality, international relations, and more. She is a strong supporter of women’s rights, LGBT rights, and a diverse Australia.
Early years and childhood
Ying-Yen Penelope “Penny” Wong was born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia on November 5, 1968. Francis Wong, her father, was a Malaysian Chinese Hakka, and Jane Wong, her mother, was an Australian European.
Penny’s parents split up in 1976, and she and her mother and younger brother moved to Adelaide, South Australia.
She was going to study medicine at first, but she changed her mind when she realized she didn’t like blood. She then went to the University of Adelaide and got a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws in 1992.
She joined the Adelaide University Labor Club in 1988 while she was still in school. Since 1989, she has been a delegate to the South Australian Labor Party State Convention. She also worked part-time for the CFMEU, which stands for the Construction, Forestry, Mining, and Energy Union.
In 1993, she became a member of the South Australian Bar.
Penny Wong’s Career
In 1995–96 Penny worked as a consultant for both the CFMEU and the newly elected state government of New South Wales in Sydney.
She worked as a lawyer at the Duncan and Hannon firm from 1996 to 1999 after she moved back to Adelaide. She was the legal officer for the “Liquor, Hospitality, and Miscellaneous Union” for the next three years.
She ran for Senate pre-selection in 2001 and was chosen for the top spot on the Labor Party’s South Australian ticket. She was then elected, and her term began on July 1, 2002.
In June 2005, she was named Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility and Shadow Minister for Employment and Workforce Participation. Later, she was in charge of Public Administration and Accountability, Corporate Governance and Responsibility, and Workforce Participation.
After the Labor Party won the election in 2007, she was given the job of Minister for Climate Change and Water. During her time in the ministry, she increased the goal for renewable energy and helped get a lot of money invested in wind and solar power.
She was named Minister for Finance and Deregulation in September 2010, and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate in February 2013.
She was the first woman to be named Leader of the Government in the Senate in June 2013.
After the Labor Party lost the federal elections in September 2013, Penny Wong became the first woman in Australia to be named Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.
Awards & Achievements
She was named one of the 25 most influential lesbians in Australia in June 2010.
Personal History and Legacies
Penny Wong is a lesbian, and she was the first member of the Australian Labor Party to “come out” while in parliament. Sophie Allouache is her partner. She works for the government, and the two of them have two daughters, Alexandra and Hannah.
In 2001, her brother, Toby, killed himself.
She is a good Christian and goes to Adelaide’s Pilgrim Uniting Church.
Estimated Net worth
Penny Wong is one of the most popular and wealthiest politicians. Based on what we’ve found on Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, Penny Wong’s net worth is about $1.5 million.
Trivia
She is the first Australian cabinet member who was born in Asia.
Penny Wong is Australia’s first openly lesbian cabinet minister.