Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith and the Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, have been awarded the 2021 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership.
Mr Smith is the McKinnon Political Leader of the Year, while Ms Harding is the Emerging Political Leader of the Year.
The annual prize, which recognises two outstanding Australian political leaders, is a collaboration between the Susan McKinnon Foundation and the University of Melbourne.
The non-partisan award recognises courageous, visionary, ethical and collaborative political leadership. This year’s winners were chosen by a panel including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard AC, former NSW Premier Mike Baird AO, journalist Peta Credlin AO and Chancellor of the University of Canberra and Kungarakan elder Tom Calma AO, among others.
Mr Smith was chosen for his work in consistently and with impact, upholding Parliamentary standards and ensuring bipartisan accountability within the Parliament.
Beginning his career working as a senior adviser to Peter Costello AC, Mr Smith was elected to Parliament as the Member for Casey in 2001 and appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister John Howard in 2007. He became the Speaker of the House of Representatives in August 2015.
As Speaker, Mr Smith was an advocate for balanced and respectful debate, embracing his role as the arbitrator of democratic discourse in Parliament. Despite two years of pandemic lockdowns and frustrations, he refused to allow government to be further disrupted, championing the first digital sittings of Parliament in Australia.
Mr Smith said he was honoured to receive the prize.
“Last year was the second year of the most significant public health crisis in 100 years, which presented unique challenges for the Parliament. In that context, I am humbled to be recognised by such a prestigious organisation and esteemed selection panel for my efforts as Speaker during this difficult period for Australia,” he said.
“The Speaker’s role is critical in seeking to maintain respectful and open debate between members of the House of Representatives. While the title may be Speaker of the House, a Speaker is also Speaker for the House, ensuring that all Members get a fair go so that they can debate and express their point of view.”
“I pay tribute to the Susan McKinnon Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering and improving our democracy.”
Ms Teresa Harding was chosen for her demonstrated achievements and commitment to transparency and public accountability in political institutions.
A former member of the armed forces, Ms Harding entered local politics in March 2020, tasked with bringing a fresh start to a Council that had been beset by allegations of corruption. Within 12 months, Ms Harding proved her ability to lead and inspire public confidence in local government.
Ms Harding said she felt proud of what she achieved in Ipswich with her colleagues last year.
“As somebody who has always been an enthusiastic contributor to the community, it’s a wonderful surprise to be recognised by the McKinnon Prize for the work my colleagues and I have delivered in Ipswich, and to shine a light on the amazing work the team has achieved in 2021,” Ms Harding said.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to give back to my local community, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the coming years.”
For more information about the prize and to see the selection panel details, please visit the .
