# Cate Faehrmann

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Australian politician

Cate Faehrmann MLC Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council Incumbent Assumed office 15 August 2018 Preceded by Mehreen Faruqi In office 7 September 2010 – 18 June 2013 Preceded by Lee Rhiannon Succeeded by Mehreen Faruqi Personal details Born (1970-03-17) 17 March 1970 (age 56) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Party Greens Website Official website

**Cate Faehrmann** (born 17 March 1970)[1] is an Australian politician and environmental activist. Faehrmann was a [Greens](/source/Greens_New_South_Wales) member of the [New South Wales Legislative Council](/source/New_South_Wales_Legislative_Council) from 2011 to 2013.[2] She resigned from the Legislative Council in June 2013 to stand for the [Senate](/source/Senate) at the [federal election](/source/2013_Australian_federal_election) of the same year, and was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat. She worked in the office of the Leader of the Australian Greens, [Richard Di Natale](/source/Richard_Di_Natale), as his chief of staff from May 2015 to March 2018. In August 2018, she was re-elected to the Legislative Council to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of [Mehreen Faruqi](/source/Mehreen_Faruqi), who had replaced [Lee Rhiannon](/source/Lee_Rhiannon) in the [Australian Senate](/source/Australian_Senate).[2]

## Early life

Faehrmann was born in [Darlinghurst, New South Wales](/source/Darlinghurst%2C_New_South_Wales), and spent her childhood in a small country town west of [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane). Her adoptive parents ran the local chemist, and she attended a Toowoomba boarding high school.[3]

She attended [Griffith University](/source/Griffith_University) in Queensland, where she worked to establish a Women's Collective on campus, and was active in pro-choice campaigns at the time.[1] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from [La Trobe University](/source/La_Trobe_University).[4]

In 2005, she was appointed executive director of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.[5] While heading up the Council, Faehrmann launched the Walk Against Warming initiative,[6] an annual community call to action on [tackling climate change](/source/Climate_change_mitigation), which drew crowds of tens of thousands in Sydney in other cities across Australia and the world.

## Political career

Between 2001 and 2005, Faehrmann worked as a media advisor and campaign coordinator for the Greens party in South Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand.[3]

She was preselected to fill the casual vacancy left by the resignation of Lee Rhiannon and took her place in the NSW Legislative Council in September 2010.

Following the 2011 state election, Faehrmann published a controversial opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald in which she was critical of the Greens' campaign strategy. She encouraged a period of internal reflection, writing: "The necessary soul searching is not just about the party's future fortunes. Climate change, the loss of native plants and animals, the need to foster healthy communities, the reduction of air and water pollution, and the creation of a sustainable economy, are urgent challenges. We must be a party of government within one generation. If we are to reach our potential within the next couple of elections, we need to be honest about our mistakes and learn from them. The party's handling of the boycott, divestment and sanctions policy against Israel was an unnecessary distraction from issues relevant to a state election."[7]

As a member of the Legislative Council, Faehrmann's portfolio responsibilities within the Greens included: Environment, Transport, Healthy Lifestyles (incl. Dental Health, Drugs and Harm Minimisation), Roads and Ports, Status of Women, Sexuality and Gender Identity, Multiculturalism and Animal Welfare. As of May 2011[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cate_Faehrmann&action=edit) all NSW Greens MPs share portfolio responsibility for climate change.[8]

Faehrmann was preselected in a statewide postal ballot of members to be the Greens lead Senate candidate for NSW in the 2013 federal election.[9] For this reason, she resigned her seat from the NSW Parliament in June 2013, to prepare for the coming election. Faehrmann's vacated seat was filled by fellow Greens member, [Mehreen Faruqi](/source/Mehreen_Faruqi). Faehrmann failed to win a Senate seat.

In 2014, Faehrmann replaced [Bob Brown](/source/Bob_Brown) as chairperson of Sea Shepherd Australia.[10]

On 25 May 2015, she was announced as the Chief of Staff to newly-appointed Greens leader, [Richard Di Natale](/source/Richard_Di_Natale),[11] but left that post in March 2018, reportedly aiming to take the soon-to-be-vacant seat of Mehreen Faruqi in the NSW Legislative Council.[12] She returned to the Council in August 2018.[13]

In August, 2023, she called to legalise cocaine in Australia as the war on drugs has failed.[14][15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-speech_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-speech_1-1) ["My inaugural speech"](http://catefaehrmann.org/2010/09/my-inaugural-speech). *catefaehrmann.org*. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2014.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cate_Faehrmann_NSW_Parl_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cate_Faehrmann_NSW_Parl_2-1) ["Cate Faehrmann"](https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2198). *Members of the [Parliament of New South Wales](/source/Parliament_of_New_South_Wales)*. Retrieved 6 May 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-newsstore.fairfax.com.au_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-newsstore.fairfax.com.au_3-1) ["Financial Review – News Store"](http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=F8AA7221730FFB6064F3292B76193A2A?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=18964&clsPage=1&docID=SMH1104221G7S22F829B). Newsstore.fairfax.com.au. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ms Cate FAEHRMANN, MLC"](https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=2198). *www.parliament.nsw.gov.au*. Retrieved 21 February 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NCC_contact_5-0)** ["Nature Conservation Council of NSW – Contact Us – Cate Faehrmann"](http://nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=3&Itemid=172). Retrieved 4 January 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Women of Style"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140311135421/http://www.instylemag.com.au/Special-Offers/Environment1). *instylemag.com.au*. Archived from [the original](http://www.instylemag.com.au/Special-Offers/Environment1) on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Greens won't get much further if we repeat poll blunders"](http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/greens-wont-get-much-further-if-we-repeat-poll-blunders-20110406-1d4e7.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. 7 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Portfolios | John Kaye MLC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140427234209/http://johnkaye.org.au/portfolios/). Johnkaye.org.au. Archived from [the original](http://johnkaye.org.au/portfolios) on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Greens state MP lines up for Senate"](http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/greens-state-mp-lines-up-for-senate-20120527-1zd78.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-shepherd_10-0)** ["Former Greens leader Bob Brown steps down as chairman of anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-03/bob-brown-steps-down-as-sea-shepherd-chairman/5363616). *[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(Australia))*. Retrieved 3 April 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Daniel Hurst [@danielhurstbne] (25 May 2015). ["Cate Faehrmann - of Sea Shepherd & former NSW upper house MP - named as new Greens leader Richard Di Natale's chief of staff. @gabriellechan"](https://twitter.com/danielhurstbne/status/602644134235492352) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Knaus, Christopher (8 March 2018). ["Richard Di Natale's former chief of staff takes legal action against NSW Greens"](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/08/richard-di-natales-former-chief-of-staff-takes-legal-action-against-nsw-greens). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 8 March 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Former Di Natale staffer takes NSW seat"](https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5591041/former-di-natale-staffer-takes-nsw-seat/). *Illawarra Mercury*. 16 August 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Greens MP Cate Faehrmann calls to legalise cocaine"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-01/greens-mp-cate-faehrmann-calls-to-legalise-cocaine/102675990). *www.abc.net.au*. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["NSW is the cocaine capital of Australia. A Greens MP wants to see the drug legalised"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-02/nsw-greens-cocaine-legalisation-suggestion/102675042). *ABC News*. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2024.

## External links

- [Cate Faehrmann's Website](https://archive.today/20130119010839/http://catefaehrmann.org/)

Non-profit organization positions Preceded by Bob Brown Chairperson of Sea Shepherd Australia 2014–2015 Succeeded by Peter Hammarstedt

v t e Current members of the New South Wales Legislative Council Labor (15) Mark Buttigieg Anthony D'Adam Greg Donnelly John Graham Courtney Houssos Rose Jackson Sarah Kaine Stephen Lawrence Daniel Mookhey Tara Moriarty Cameron Murphy Bob Nanva Peter Primrose Penny Sharpe Emily Suvaal Coalition (14) Liberal (9) Susan Carter Scott Farlow Aileen MacDonald Natasha Maclaren-Jones Rachel Merton Jacqui Munro Chris Rath Damien Tudehope Natalie Ward Nationals (5) Scott Barrett Wes Fang Ben Franklin Sarah Mitchell Nichole Overall Greens (4) Abigail Boyd Amanda Cohn Cate Faehrmann Sue Higginson SFF (2) Mark Banasiak Robert Borsak Other (7) Jeremy Buckingham (LCP) Emma Hurst (AJP) Mark Latham (IND) Taylor Martin (IND) Tania Mihailuk (IND) Rod Roberts (IND) John Ruddick (LBT)

v t e Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Operations Sea Shepherd Conservation Society operations 1986 Hvalur sinkings Neptune's Navy Current vessels MV Emanuel Bronner MY Farley Mowat MY Jairo Mora Sandoval MY John Paul DeJoria RV Martin Sheen MY Ocean Warrior MY Age of Union MV Sharpie Former vessels MY Ady Gil MY Alchemy MY Bob Barker MV Brigitte Bardot RV Farley Mowat Sea Shepherd I Sea Shepherd II MY Steve Irwin MV White Holly People Paul Watson Bob Brown Cate Faehrmann Pete Bethune Pia Klemp Rod Coronado Alex Pacheco Media Whale Wars (List of Whale Wars episodes) At the Edge of the World

Authority control databases: People Australian Women's Register

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cate Faehrmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cate_Faehrmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cate_Faehrmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.