Maree Davenport

Maree Therese Luckins Davenport (born 14 March 1968) is a former Australian politician. She was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1996 to 2002, representing Waverley Province.

Davenport was born in Melbourne. She attended Catholic schools, graduating with HSC in 1985. She then became a Property Manager with Bruce Grant Real Estate 1987-1992 and was a licensed real estate sub-agent 1986-92.

Maree had joined the Liberal Party in 1986, and was active in the Young Liberals.^[1]

Maree was endorsed as the Liberal candidate for the seat of Dandenong North in 1991 and gained a swing of over 8 per cent to be unsuccessful by 19 votes. She was Ministerial Advisor to Minister for Industry and Employment and Deputy Leader of the Liberal party Hon. Phil Gude MLA from 1992 until 1996 when (as Luckins) she was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Waverley Province at the age of 28. She was the youngest woman elected in Victoria and the first to have a baby while serving.

From 1996-2002, she chaired the Liberal Party health policy committee and was later appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Human Services with responsibility for health, housing, community services and aged care. In addition, she was appointed to serve on the Consumer Affairs, Industry and Employment, Industrial Relations, Small Business, Multicultural Affairs and Women’s Affairs Policy Committees.

A Member and Deputy Chair of the Parliament’s joint all-party Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC), which examines, reviews and reports on all Victorian legislation, Luckins gained invaluable insight into issues across every State Government portfolio. She also served as Chair of the Redundant Legislation Committee and Deputy Chair of the Regulation Review Committee, which examines the impact of proposed regulatory regimes and makes recommendations to Parliament to allow or disallow their implementation.

She held the seat until 2002, when she attempted to transfer to the Legislative Assembly following a redistribution of Waverley Province, contesting the seat of Narre Warren North. She was defeated.^[1]

Since leaving Parliament she continues to serve the community, involved in many charitable and service organisations.

Davenport is a registered lobbyist and Principal of lobbying and advocacy company Phoenix Public Affairs which she founded in 2004.

She was appointed as a Member of the Building Appeals Board at the Victorian Building Authority from August 2012 until December 2013. The BAB hears appeals and disputes in relation to building control matters and can waive, modify or vary the provisions of particular regulations based upon the particular case and can determine that a particular design or element of a building complies with the Act and the Regulations.

In 2013 then Minister for Planning Hon Matthew Guy appointed her Chair of the Building Advisory Council (BAC) and she was reappointed by current Minister Hon Richard Wynne until 2019.

The BAC is a senior industry-based group established under the Building Act 1993 to oversee the administration of the legislation and Building Regulations 2006. The Council provides advice to the Minister on issues relating to the building permit levy, qualifications and competencies required for registration of builders, assessment of applicants, consumer protection, defect rectification and insurance issues, non-conforming products, emerging technologies, training and skill needs, safety in the built environment and any other matter referred by the Minister. A current review of sunsetting regulations is underway. The BAC comprises the Victorian heads of the Property Council of Australia, Master Builders Association, Housing Industry Association, Australian Institute of Building Surveyors, Building Design Association, Australian Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia, Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Victorian Building Authority.

Maree served on the Monash Children's Hospital Capital Fundraising Committee and has been appointed to the Inaugural Monash Children's Hospital Foundation by Monash Health. The new hospital is due for completion in 2017. http://www.monashchildrenshospital.org/ She also serves on the Children's Hospital Dandelion Wishes Gala Ball committee. http://dandelionwishesgala.com.au/

She is an Ambassador for Carlton Football Club, a Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors and Women on Boards. She has 3 children born 1994, 1997 and 2004. She is married to Marcus Davenport, Partner at Clayton Utz Lawyers.

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