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Penny Wong portrait

Senate

Penny Wong

Senator for South Australia

Australian Labor Party · ALP

Federal parliamentary service24 years 3 month(s) and 28 days.Duration reported by the Parliamentary Handbook · 28 Oct 2026
Current ministry / shadow entries2Includes office-holder entries such as Cabinet membership; not a count of distinct policy areas.

Parliamentary service

First entered federal Parliament: 1 July 2002.

Service periods below follow the Handbook’s election and service boundaries. The source-reported duration above is shown separately from our interval calculation.

  1. 1 July 2022 – CurrentSenate

    Re-elected 2022

  2. 2 July 2016 – 30 June 2022Senate

    Re-elected 2016

  3. 1 July 2014 – 1 July 2016Senate

    Re-elected 2013

  4. 1 July 2008 – 30 June 2014Senate

    Re-elected 2007

  5. 1 July 2002 – 30 June 2008Senate

    Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2001.

Current responsibilities

Ministry and shadow ministry

  • Cabinet Minister23 May 2022 – CurrentAlbanese Ministry (2nd)
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs23 May 2022 – CurrentAlbanese Ministry (2nd)

Parliamentary and party offices

  • Leader of the Government in the Senate31 May 2022 – Current

These are the Handbook’s dated appointments. Party spokespeople and committee memberships outside these records need their own source checks.

Background before Parliament

Qualifications recorded by Parliament

  • Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence), University of Adelaide
  • Bachelor of Laws Honours, University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of South Australia

Occupations recorded by Parliament

  • Legal officer from 1999 to 2002.
  • Barrister and solicitor from 1996 to 1999.
  • Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister for Land and Conservation (NSW), the Hon. K Yeadon from 1995 to 1996.
  • Industrial officer from 1990 to 1994.

Appointment history

View 19 dated office and portfolio entries
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate31 May 2022 – Current
  • Cabinet Minister23 May 2022 – Current
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs23 May 2022 – Current
  • Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs23 July 2016 – 23 May 2022
  • Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment18 Oct 2013 – 23 July 2016
  • Shadow Cabinet Minister14 Oct 2013 – 23 May 2022
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate14 Oct 2013 – 23 May 2022
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate26 June 2013 – 18 Sept 2013
  • Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate4 Feb 2013 – 26 June 2013
  • President of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.201314 Sept 2010 – 18 Sept 2013
  • Minister for Finance and Deregulation14 Sept 2010 – 18 Sept 2013
  • Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water8 Mar 2010 – 14 Sept 2010
  • Cabinet Minister3 Dec 2007 – 18 Sept 2013
  • Minister for Climate Change and Water3 Dec 2007 – 8 Mar 2010
  • Shadow Minister for Workforce Participation10 Dec 2006 – 3 Dec 2007
  • Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Accountability10 Dec 2006 – 3 Dec 2007
  • Shadow Cabinet Minister26 Oct 2004 – 3 Dec 2007
  • Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility26 Oct 2004 – 3 Dec 2007
  • Shadow Minister for Employment and Workforce Participation26 Oct 2004 – 10 Dec 2006