Steph Key

Who is Steph Key?

Stephanie Wendy Key is an Australian politician serving in the South Australian state parliament as a member of the Australian Labor Party. Key represents the inner western Adelaide electoral district of Ashford in the state's House of Assembly. She served in the state's Cabinet as Minister for Social Justice, Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education, Minister for Youth, and Minister for the Status of Women during the first term of Rann Labor government, from 2002 to 2006.

Key was born in Adelaide and attended Largs Bay Primary School, Port Adelaide Girls Technical High School and Marryatville Adult Education School. She completed a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics and Sociology at Flinders University, where she was elected as the first woman general secretary of the Flinders University Students Association. She subsequently worked with the Transport Workers Union, the Australian Council of Trades Unions and the United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia, also serving as the director of the Working Women’s Centre and as a member of the South Australian Housing Trust's board of directors.

Key was elected as member for the electoral district of Hanson in 1997, and immediately assumed shadow ministerial responsibilities for industrial affairs, youth affairs and assisting in multicultural and ethnic affairs. Changes in the Shadow Cabinet during 2000 saw her responsibilities change to housing and urban development, employment and training, local government and youth affairs. She was re-elected to parliament at the 2002 election as member for Ashford, as the seat of Hanson had been re-named.