Julie Collins

Collins was born in Hobart on 3 July 1971. Her father died when she was five months old, leaving her mother, Anne Peters, widowed at the age of 19. She spent her early years in her grandparents' housing commission property. Her mother subsequently remarried and she was adopted by her step-father Andrew Collins. Collins attended Cosgrove High School but discontinued her studies at 15 before finishing high school and began a full time role at the local supermarket she worked at since she was 14. She did this as she became aware that she could not financially afford the costs of finishing years 11 and 12. ==Politics==

Prior to entering parliament herself, Collins worked in various administrative positions for Tasmanian Labor MPs and state government departments. She worked for the state health department (1990–1993), state opposition leader Michael Field (1993–1994), Senator John Coates (1995–1996), Senator Sue Mackay (1996–1998), Hydro Tasmania (1998), state premier Jim Bacon (1998–2003), the state Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts (2003–2005), and Senator Carol Brown (2005–2006). Rudd and Gillard governments (2007–2013) Collins was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2007 federal election retaining the Division of Franklin for the ALP following the retirement of Harry Quick and becoming the first woman to represent the electorate. Harkins resigned as candidate after more controversy and Collins was preselected as the candidate by the ALP's national executive. Collins had previously unsuccessfully stood for the seat of Denison in the 2006 state election. She successfully held her seat in the 2010 federal election and was sworn in as Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services on 14 September 2010 in the Second Gillard ministry. In 2013, Collins gained additional responsibilities as the Minister for Housing and Homelessness and was promoted to the cabinet in the Second Rudd ministry. She remained in these positions until the defeat of the Rudd government in September 2013. Opposition (2013–2022) Collins held her seat in the 2013, 2016 and 2019 federal elections. Collins launched the government's Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee. Collins introduced the Housing Australia Future Fund bill into parliament. In the July 2024 reshuffle, she was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and retained Minister for Small Business until 2025. She held her seat in the 2025 federal election. ==Personal life==

Collins has three children with her husband Ian Hubbard. ==See also==