{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Michelle Lensink | honorific_suffix = MLC | image = Michelle Lensink.jpg | alt = | caption = | office = Minister for Human Services | premier = Steven Marshall | term_start = {{start date|2018|03|22|df=y}} | term_end = {{start date|2022|03|21|df=y}} | predecessor = Zoe Bettison {{small|(as Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, as Minister for Social Housing, as Minister for the Status of Women, as Minister for Ageing, as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, as Minister for Youth, and as Minister for Volunteers)}} | successor = Nat Cook | office1 = Member of the Legislative Council | parliament1 = South Australian | term_start1 = {{start date|2003|06|26|df=y}} <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by adding a number--> | term_end1 = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by adding a number--> | predecessor1 = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by adding a number--> | successor1 = <!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by adding a number--> | pronunciation = | birth_name = Jacqueline Michelle Ann Lensink | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|02|20|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | citizenship = | party = Liberal Party of Australia (SA) | other_party = <!--For additional political affiliations--> | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | spouse = | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | relations = | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) --> | relatives = | education = | alma_mater = {{bulleted list|University of South Australia|University of Adelaide}} | occupation = {{hlist| Physiotherapist}} | profession = | known_for = | salary = | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | awards = <!-- For civilian awards - appears as "Awards" if |mawards= is not set --> | footnotes = }} '''Jacqueline Michelle Ann Lensink''' (born 20 February 1970{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}) is an Australian politician representing the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the South Australian Legislative Council since 26 June 2003. Lensink served as the Minister for Human Services in the Marshall Ministry between March 2018 and March 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-22/sa-liberal-government-sworn-in-whos-who-in-ministry/9575712 |title=SA election: Who's who in the new South Australian Liberal Government? |last=MacLennan |first=Leah |date=22 March 2018 |website=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://governmentgazette.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/public/documents/gazette/2018/March/2018_020.pdf |title=The South Australian Government Gazette, 22 March 2018, No. 20, Supplementary Gazette|access-date=23 March 2018}}</ref>
== Background and early career == Lensink was educated at Stirling East Primary School and Marryatville High School, before attending the University of South Australia, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) in 1991. In 2003, she was awarded an MBA from the University of Adelaide. From 1991 to 1994, Lensink worked as a physiotherapist at Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, before moving into the political arena.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/the-team/michelle-lensink-mlc |title=Michelle Lensink MLC |website=Premier of South Australia |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>
From 1994 to 1996, she worked as the policy researcher to the federal member for Sturt, who at the time was also parliamentary secretary to the Shadow Minister for Social Security (with responsibility for Child Support policy), and from 1998 to 2002, she worked as ministerial adviser to the Hon. Robert Lawson {{post-nominals|country=AUS|QC}} {{small|MLC}}.<ref name="SA parl">{{Cite SA-parl|pid=2742|name=Hon Jacqueline Michelle Ann Lensink|former=|access-date=10 November 2022}}</ref>
From 2002 to 2003, she worked as the executive officer of the Aged Care Association of Australia, SA (formerly ANHECA).<ref name="SA parl" />
==Political career== From 1991 to 1995, Lensink served as a member of the Young Liberal Executive, and in July 1995 she was elected South Australian Young Liberal President where she served for two years. In January 1996, she became the Federal Young Liberal Movement's Treasurer.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
In 2001, she was selected at number four on the Liberal Party's Senate ticket for the 2001 federal election; however, did not achieve the necessary quota.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carr |first=Adam |title=2001 legislative election: Senate South Australia |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2001/2001senatesa.txt |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Psephos}}</ref>
Appointed to the Legislative Council in May 2003 following a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Diana Laidlaw, Lensink was elected for a further eight-year term at the 2006 election and has subsequently held a number of shadow ministerial positions including shadow responsibility for mental health and substance abuse, security and infrastructure, gambling, government enterprises, consumer affairs, environment and conservation, sustainability and climate change, the status for women, and for youth. She was re-elected for another eight-year term at the 2014 election.<ref name="SA parl" /> She was at third position on the Liberal ticket in both elections.
Since 26 January 2008, Lensink has also served as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
In 2024, absent on sick leave due to cancer treatment, she paired with a fellow MLC to successfully vote down an anti-abortion bill (final result 9–10).<ref>{{cite web | title=Why is Australia debating late-term abortions? | date=17 October 2024 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-is-australia-debating-late-term-abortions-20241017-p5kj34.html }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.michellelensink.com/ Official website]
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Zoe Bettison |as=Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion,<br/>Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women,<br/>Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs,<br/>Minister for Youth, and as Minister for Volunteers}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister for Human Services|years=2018–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Nat Cook}} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lensink, Michelle}} Category:University of South Australia alumni Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council Category:University of Adelaide alumni Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:Women members of the South Australian Legislative Council Category:21st-century Australian women politicians Category:Australian physiotherapists Category:Politicians from Adelaide
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