Biography

Jodeen Terese Carney was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 9 December 1965. Jodeen attended Eaglehawk High School from 1978 to 1981, completing year 10 (elected as the SRC President in Year 9 and 10), and then went on to complete her HSC at Bendigo High School in Victoria and graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts (politics/history) and a Bachelor of Laws. After completing her articles of Clerkship in Alice Springs in 1990 she was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, High Court of Australia and Federal & Family Courts.  Jodeen practiced as a Solicitor between 1990 and 1997 until opening her own practice, Carney’s Barristers & Solicitors in late 1997. Her areas of practice included personal injuries litigation, crimes compensation, welfare law and general advocacy. Her clients included local businesses, government and non-government, finance companies, families and people with disabilities. Prior to entering politics, Jodeen was involved in a number of community organisations for many years including the Women’s Legal Service, Zonta Club, Red Cross, Cancer Council and the Women’s Advisory Council. Jodeen was first elected as an MLA for Araluen in August of 2001.  In June 2005, Jodeen was elected for a second time.  She was the only member of the CLP who recorded a swing in her favour at that election.  She was elected by her parliamentary colleagues as the Leader of the Opposition in late June.  On 29 January 2008, a Party room vote for the leader was tied.  Rather than add to the damage already caused by leadership speculation, Jodeen "fell on her sword" and relinquished the Leadership.  For a copy of her statement issued on that day click here. Jodeen holds the shadow portfolios of: Attorney-General and Justice; Children and Families and Child Protection. Jodeen has also previously held the shadow portfolios of Tourism; Correctional Services; Communications; Science and Advanced Technology; Parks and Wildlife; Health; Women’s Policy; AustralAsia Railway; Police, Fire & Emergency Services; Defence Support; Major Projects, Business & Economic Development; Essential Services; Corporate & Information Services; Family & Community Services. Jodeen is a current member of the Privileges Committee. Her current memberships include: Alice Springs Turf Club; Law Society Of The Northern Territory; Holyoake Alice Springs Inc.;  Alice Springs Rural Area Association;  R.S.P.C.A;  National Pioneer Women's Hall Of Fame;  Centre Square (CAFL);  InCite Youth Arts; and  Araluen Arts Centre (Friends of Araluen)   Jodeen is the Patron of Desert Storm Cluster, Central Australian Rugby League and Central Australian Junior Rugby League.