# Terri Butler

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Australian lawyer and politician (born 1977)

Terri Butler Butler in 2014 Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission Incumbent Assumed office 9 September 2024 President Adam Hatcher Appointed by Anthony Albanese Member of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission In office 8 January 2024 – 31 August 2024 President Peter Davis Appointed by Steven Miles Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water In office 2 June 2019 – 23 May 2022 Leader Anthony Albanese Preceded by Tony Burke Succeeded by Jonathon Duniam Shadow Minister for Employment Services, Workforce Participation and Future of Work In office 21 August 2018 – 2 June 2019 Leader Bill Shorten Preceded by Ed Husic Succeeded by Richard Marles Member of the Australian Parliament for Griffith In office 8 February 2014 – 21 May 2022 Preceded by Kevin Rudd Succeeded by Max Chandler-Mather Personal details Born Terri Megan Butler (1977-11-28) 28 November 1977 (age 48) Cairns, Queensland, Australia Party Labor Spouse Troy Spence Children 2 Alma mater Queensland University of Technology BA, LLB(Hons) Profession Workplace relations lawyer Signature Website www.terributlermp.com

**Terri Megan Butler** (born 28 November 1977) is an Australian public servant and former politician. She was a member of the [House of Representatives](/source/Australian_House_of_Representatives) from 2014 to 2022, representing the seat of [Griffith](/source/Division_of_Griffith) for the [Australian Labor Party](/source/Australian_Labor_Party) (ALP). She worked as an industrial lawyer prior to entering parliament and in 2024 was appointed as a deputy president of the [Fair Work Commission](/source/Fair_Work_Commission).

## Early life

Butler was born on 28 November 1977 in [Cairns, Queensland](/source/Cairns%2C_Queensland),[1][2] the daughter of Allison and Larry Butler.[3] She holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and [Bachelor of Laws](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws) ([Hons.](/source/Honours_degree)) from the [Queensland University of Technology](/source/Queensland_University_of_Technology).[1] She also studied at [James Cook University](/source/James_Cook_University).[2] As a student she worked for an engineering firm, at an aluminium factory and for the [Australian Services Union](/source/Australian_Services_Union).[3]

Butler completed her [articles of clerkship](/source/Articles_of_clerkship) in 2003 and subsequently worked as an industrial lawyer.[1] Prior to her election to parliament, she was a principal at [Maurice Blackburn](/source/Maurice_Blackburn_(law_firm)) and led the firm's employment and workplace relations division in Queensland.[2][4] She undertook further study at [Melbourne Business School](/source/Melbourne_Business_School) and had begun a [Master of Laws](/source/Master_of_Laws) degree at the [University of Queensland](/source/University_of_Queensland).[5]

## Political career

Prior to her election to parliament Butler held senior positions in the [Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)](/source/Australian_Labor_Party_(Queensland_Branch)). She was secretary of the party's [Yeronga](/source/Yeronga%2C_Queensland) branch, chair of the state party's rules committee, a member of the National Policy Forum, and a delegate to state and national conference.[1]

### Parliament

Butler in 2014

Butler was elected to the [House of Representatives](/source/Australian_House_of_Representatives) at the [2014 Griffith by-election](/source/2014_Griffith_by-election), caused by the resignation of former prime minister [Kevin Rudd](/source/Kevin_Rudd). She won the seat with a 51.8 percent [two-party](/source/Two-party-preferred_vote) vote against [Liberal National Party](/source/Liberal_National_Party_of_Queensland) candidate [Bill Glasson](/source/Bill_Glasson_(surgeon)), a swing against the ALP of 1.2 points.[6] She is a member of the [Labor Left](/source/Labor_Left) faction,[7] unlike Rudd who was from the [Labor Unity](/source/Labor_Unity).[8]

Butler was re-elected at the 2016 and [2019 federal elections](/source/2019_Australian_federal_election). She was promoted to shadow [parliamentary secretary](/source/Parliamentary_secretary) in October 2015 and to shadow minister in July 2016. Under opposition leaders [Bill Shorten](/source/Bill_Shorten) and [Anthony Albanese](/source/Anthony_Albanese), she held the portfolios of preventing family violence (2016–2018); employment services, workforce participation and future of work (2018–2019); young Australians and youth affairs (2018–2019); and the environment and water (2019–2022).[1]

In July 2015, Butler along with Labor colleague [Laurie Ferguson](/source/Laurie_Ferguson), Liberal MPs [Warren Entsch](/source/Warren_Entsch) and [Teresa Gambaro](/source/Teresa_Gambaro), independents [Andrew Wilkie](/source/Andrew_Wilkie) and [Cathy McGowan](/source/Cathy_McGowan_(politician)) and [Greens](/source/Australian_Greens) MP [Adam Bandt](/source/Adam_Bandt), co-sponsored a bill to introduce [same-sex marriage in Australia](/source/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Australia).[9][10][11][12]

In September 2015, Butler led public opposition to anti-abortion activist [Troy Newman](/source/Troy_Newman_(activist)) entering Australia. She wrote to Immigration Minister [Peter Dutton](/source/Peter_Dutton) and requested he ask his department to consider cancellation of Newman's visa,[13] which was revoked.[14] Newman flew to Australia without a visa and was then deported after losing a [High Court](/source/High_Court_of_Australia) appeal.[15]

In 2016, Butler was sued for defamation after an appearance on *[Q&A](/source/Q%26A_(Australian_talk_show))* in which she implied Calum Thwaites, a [Queensland University of Technology](/source/Queensland_University_of_Technology) (QUT) student, had used a racial slur in a Facebook post. The allegations were first made by a third party in an earlier *[Racial Discrimination Act 1975](/source/Racial_Discrimination_Act_1975)* case against Thwaites which had been dismissed.[16] Butler and Thwaites settled out of court, as a result of which she offered "my unreserved apology for enabling those meanings about you to be conveyed, and for the distress and damage to your reputation caused as a consequence".[17]

At the [2022 federal election](/source/2022_Australian_federal_election), Butler lost her seat of [Griffith](/source/Division_of_Griffith) to [Max Chandler-Mather](/source/Max_Chandler-Mather) of the [Australian Greens](/source/Australian_Greens), despite the ALP receiving a nationwide positive swing and forming a majority government. Unusually, despite being an incumbent, she was not one of the final two candidates in the two-candidate-preferred count for the seat; her preferences helped the Greens beat Olivia Roberts of the [Liberal National Party](/source/Liberal_National_Party_of_Queensland).[18]

## Post-politics

On 21 December 2023, the Queensland Government announced that Butler had been appointed as a Commissioner of the [Queensland Industrial Relations Commission](/source/Industrial_relations_commission).[19]

In August 2024, Butler was appointed by the [Albanese government](/source/Albanese_government) as a deputy president of the [Fair Work Commission](/source/Fair_Work_Commission).[20]

## Personal life

Butler has two children with her husband Troy Spence, a former [Australian Workers' Union](/source/Australian_Workers'_Union) organiser.[21]

She was previously in a relationship with state [Labor](/source/Queensland_Labor_Party) MP [Simon Finn](/source/Simon_Finn_(politician)).[22]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aph_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aph_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aph_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aph_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-aph_1-4) ["Ms Terri Butler MP"](https://handbook.aph.gov.au/Parliamentarian/248006). *Senators and Members of the [Parliament of Australia](/source/Parliament_of_Australia)*. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sta_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sta_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sta_2-2) ["Terri Butler MP"](https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/hon-terri-butler-mp/). Science and Technology Australia. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200719235741/https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/profile/hon-terri-butler-mp/) from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-firstspeech_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-firstspeech_3-1) ["First speech"](https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/43a669e8-9d2f-411b-bacb-ffc094fd0f4a/0025%22). *Hansard*. Parliament of Australia. 27 February 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210412224936/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F43a669e8-9d2f-411b-bacb-ffc094fd0f4a%2F0025%22) from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mbfirm_4-0)** ["Griffith by-election: Bill Glasson, Terri Butler vie for Kevin Rudd's old seat as voters return to polls"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-08/griffith-voters-head-back-to-polls-to-replace-kevin-rudd/5247162). ABC News. 8 February 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140208195338/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-08/griffith-voters-head-back-to-polls-to-replace-kevin-rudd/5247162) from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Terri Butler"](https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/terri-butler/12398154). *Q&A*. ABC TV. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200721013520/https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/terri-butler/12398154) from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [2014 Griffith by-election result: AEC](http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17552-163.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140211194720/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17552-163.htm) 11 February 2014 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Labor's new-look shadow ministry"](https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-new-look-shadow-ministry/e1629c15-7e65-4aec-aa27-3ee6a1cea0bb). *SBS News*. Special Broadcasting Service. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211031051029/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-new-look-shadow-ministry/e1629c15-7e65-4aec-aa27-3ee6a1cea0bb) from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Atfield, Cameron (15 December 2013). ["Lawyer Terri Butler wins preselection for Griffith, Rudd's former seat"](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lawyer-terri-butler-wins-preselection-for-griffith-rudds-former-seat-20131214-2zehc.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200718165422/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lawyer-terri-butler-wins-preselection-for-griffith-rudds-former-seat-20131214-2zehc.html) from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Cross party plan reached on same sex marriage"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150703203834/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/07/01/cross-party-plan-reached-on-same-sex-marriage.html). Sky News Australia. 1 July 2015. Archived from [the original](http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/07/01/cross-party-plan-reached-on-same-sex-marriage.html) on 3 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Stephanie Peatling & James Massola (1 July 2015). ["Multi-party same-sex marriage bill to be introduced in August"](http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/multiparty-samesex-marriage-bill-to-be-introduced-in-august-20150701-gi2j5a.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150702141223/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/multiparty-samesex-marriage-bill-to-be-introduced-in-august-20150701-gi2j5a.html) from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Same-sex marriage: Coalition MPs Warren Entsch, Teresa Gambaro to co-sponsor private member's bill"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-01/coalition-mps-to-co-sponsor-private-members-gay-marriage-bill/6587406). ABC News. 1 July 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150701125225/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-01/coalition-mps-to-co-sponsor-private-members-gay-marriage-bill/6587406) from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Why I'm co-sponsoring a marriage equality bill"](http://media.smh.com.au/video-news/video-national-news/why-im-cosponsoring-a-marriage-equality-bill-6654567.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150702115025/http://media.smh.com.au/video-news/video-national-news/why-im-cosponsoring-a-marriage-equality-bill-6654567.html) from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["The letter Terri Butler wrote to keep anti-abortionists away"](https://www.laborherald.com.au/politics/feminism/the-letter-terri-butler-wrote-to-keep-anti-abortionists-away/). 30 September 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160305101416/https://www.laborherald.com.au/politics/feminism/the-letter-terri-butler-wrote-to-keep-anti-abortionists-away/) from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["US antiabortion campaigner Troy Newman barred from entering Australia"](http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/us-antiabortion-campaigner-troy-newman-barred-from-entering-australia-20150930-gjy6a5.html). 1 October 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160922141622/http://www.smh.com.au//federal-politics/political-news/us-antiabortion-campaigner-troy-newman-barred-from-entering-australia-20150930-gjy6a5.html) from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Anti-abortion activist Troy Newman to be deported after losing court bid to stay in Australia"](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-02/anti-abortionist-troy-newman-lose-court-bid-to-stay-in-australia/6823952). 2 October 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160516002411/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-02/anti-abortionist-troy-newman-lose-court-bid-to-stay-in-australia/6823952) from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Koziol, Michael (29 November 2016). ["'See you in court': Student rejects Labor MP Terri Butler's apology and vows to continue lawsuit"](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/see-you-in-court-student-rejects-labor-mp-terri-butlers-apology-and-vows-to-continue-lawsuit-20161128-gszarg.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200719034328/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/see-you-in-court-student-rejects-labor-mp-terri-butlers-apology-and-vows-to-continue-lawsuit-20161128-gszarg.html) from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Briggs, Casey (16 December 2016). ["Federal Labor MP Terri Butler settles racial case against QUT student with 'modest payment'"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/federal-labor-mp-terri-butler-settles-qut-student-racial-case/8126804). ABC News. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093407/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/federal-labor-mp-terri-butler-settles-qut-student-racial-case/8126804) from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Labor's Terri Butler concedes the Brisbane seat of Griffith"](https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/labors-terri-butler-concedes-the-brisbane-seat-of-griffith/video/0ed0ab97a15c48854f9b99bbe6bcdc17). 22 May 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220522051716/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/labors-terri-butler-concedes-the-brisbane-seat-of-griffith/video/0ed0ab97a15c48854f9b99bbe6bcdc17) from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["New appointments to Queensland Industrial Relations Commission"](https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99384). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240809055703/https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99384) from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Daniel, Dana (10 August 2024). ["Albanese government appoints former Labor MP Terri Butler to key regulator"](https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8724923/terri-butler-appointed-deputy-president-of-fair-work-commission/). *Canberra Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240816020826/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8724923/terri-butler-appointed-deputy-president-of-fair-work-commission/) from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-monthly_21-0)** Blaine, Lech (May 2019). ["Terri Butler's rise through the rancour"](https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2019/may/1556632800/lech-blaine/terri-butler-s-rise-through-rancour#mtr). *The Monthly*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200718082132/https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2019/may/1556632800/lech-blaine/terri-butler-s-rise-through-rancour#mtr) from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Simon Finn, Member for Yeerongpilly - First Speech"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240329144014/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/InauguralSpeech/Finn.pdf) (PDF). Parliament of Queensland. 18 March 2004. Archived from [the original](https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/InauguralSpeech/Finn.pdf) (PDF) on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20141107165926/https://www.terributlermp.com/)

- [Summary of parliamentary voting for Terri Butler MP on TheyVoteForYou.org.au](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/griffith/terri_butler)

Parliament of Australia Preceded by Kevin Rudd Member for Griffith 2014–2022 Succeeded by Max Chandler-Mather

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States People Australian Parliament

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