Christine Forster
Australian local government politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christine Forster is an Australian former local government politician who was a Liberal councillor in the City of Sydney (2012–2021) and the younger sister of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.[1][2]
Christine Forster | |
|---|---|
| Councillor of the City of Sydney | |
| In office 8 September 2012 – 4 December 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Virginia Flitcroft (m. 2018) |
| Relations | Tony Abbott (brother) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Journalist |
| Website | www |
Forster attended the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Economics. In her time at the University of Sydney, she ran for the Students' Representative Council (SRC) as a Democratic Alliance candidate, and becoming an SRC Representative in 1982.[3][4]
Forster worked as a journalist covering the Australian energy sector for resources information service Platts,[5] was elected to the City of Sydney Council in September 2012[6] and in 2014 announced a plan to run for the New South Wales Legislative Council.[7] Forster has opposed local council amalgamation plans,[8] called for Martin Place to be smoke free,[9][10] and advocated tall buildings[11] and increased street parking in Sydney City.[12] She describes herself as "committed to the principles of common sense government, genuine sustainability, free enterprise and respect for the individual".[5]
Forster lives with her wife Virginia Flitcroft, with whom she has raised money for the Sir David Martin Foundation[13] and campaigned for same-sex marriage.[14] Forster had been married previously.[15][16] In 2013, she attended the launch of the Bingham Cup in Sydney, along with Bruce Notley-Smith, Don Harwin, Malcolm Turnbull, Nick Farr-Jones and John Eales.[17]
Following the 2018 Liberal leadership spill that resulted in the defeat of Malcolm Turnbull, Forster indicated that she would seek preselection as a Liberal candidate for 2018 Wentworth by-election,[18] but later withdrew her nomination.[19]