First openly gay Tas Labor senator Josh Dolega wants industries that ‘deliver well paid jobs’
Josh Dolega was virtually unknown in Labor politics until he was nominated to fill a casual Senate vacancy. Find out what drives him.
Tasmania
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For Josh Dolega, Tasmania’s newest senator, growing up as a gay young man in a working class family had its challenges.
But he is proud to be Labor’s first openly gay Tasmanian senator and says his parents “taught me the value of hard work”.
Senator Dolega, 41, was chosen from a field of seven, including Unions Tasmania secretary Jessica Munday, by the ALP’s national executive to fill the casual Senate vacancy caused when Anne Urquhart resigned to stand in Braddon, which she won.
Growing up at Spreyton near Devonport, and attending the local state schools, he says his dad worked as a glazier and his mum had two jobs to support the family.
“My parents lived pay to pay,” Senator Dolega said.
“Growing up in regional Tasmania has meant I understand the importance of industries that deliver well-paid secure jobs.
“I know how tough it can be to grow up as a young gay man.
“I am proud to be Labor’s first openly gay Senator for Tasmania and I will be a champion for the inclusion of all Tasmanians.”
Equality Tasmania spokesman Rodney Croome said his appointment was “a big step forward” for the LGBTIQA+ community because he was only the second openly-gay Tasmanian in federal parliament after former Greens leader Senator Bob Brown.
“Josh’s appointment will send a message to young LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians that they too can make a contribution to political and community life at the highest level,” he said
“I look forward to the time when Labor, and all parties, are represented locally and nationally by a proportion of LGBTIQA+ people equal to our proportion in the overall population.
“That will be a milestone on the long road to true equality.”
Senator Dolega, who is returning to the northwest with his partner Joshua, says his interest in politics was sparked as a child seeing former Prime Minister Paul Keating on the TV news.
His first job was at Kmart Devonport at 17 and he also worked at call centres before in 2005 moving into the federal public service in Burnie before relocating to Hobart in 2017.
“It was there, I became a CPSU union delegate and helped to unionise my workplace,” Senator Dolega said.
“In that same year, I was honoured to receive the Unions Tasmania Delegate of the Year award.”
Before being nominated for the Senate vacancy, he worked as a CPSU organiser – first for Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support workers, and more recently as a lead organiser for work health and safety.
“As a union delegate, I became more aware about the role of the Labor Party – which is about improving peoples’ lives – and that’s why I joined.
“I believe that all workers should be protected from injury and harm at work and be able to return home safely to their families and loved ones.”
When he was 30 he decided to get healthier and more active and he became a fitness trainer.
“I’ve always worked hard to improve the lives of others, whether that’s been advocating for local workers or helping Tasmanians achieve their fitness goals.”
Senator Dolega said his priorities will be to ensure the state “gets the investment it needs and to support better outcomes for all Tasmanians”.
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