Jocelyn Newman, a member of the Liberal Party, served as a Senator for Tasmania in the Senate of the Australian Parliament from 1986 until 2002, when she resigned. She held the Ministerial portfolios in the Howard Government of Social Security from 1996-98; Family and Community Services from 1998-2001. She held the portfolio of Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women for two separate periods, from 1996-97 and from 1998-2001.;;