Ms. Sharon Claydon is a fifth-generation Novocastrian. She was first elected in September 2013, becoming just the sixth Federal Member for Newcastle since Federation in 1901.

Sharon is an Honours graduate in Anthropology and, before entering Parliament, worked in remote Aboriginal communities and the community-based disability services sector. She also served in local government as a Newcastle City Councillor.

In the Federal Parliament, Sharon is Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Standing Committee, and the Joint Select Committee on the Implementation of the National Redress Scheme. She is also serves on the House Indigenous Affairs Committee, the Social Media and Online Safety Committee, and the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards.

She has previously served as a member of the Reference Group on the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse.

As a member of the Federal Labor Caucus, Sharon is the Chair of the Status of Women Committee. She is also Commonwealth of Australia representative to the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Steering Committee for the Australia region, Co-Convenor of the United Nations Parliamentary Friendship Group, and Co-Chair of the Australian TB Caucus.

In March 2015, Sharon became a Member of the Speaker’s Panel, deputising for the Speaker in the House of Representatives.

Sharon is committed to social justice and throughout her career has worked to improve the lives of working people. She is passionate about fighting discrimination and ensuring we leave a better world for the next generation.