Deirdre Grusovin
Deirdre Mary Grusovin was a Labor member of the New South Wales Parliament for over twenty five years.
Grusovin was born Deirdre Mary Brereton in Sydney, and is the sister of influential former politician Laurie Brereton.
Initially elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1978, she remained in office until 1990. During this time she was Minister for Consumer Affairs and Assistant Minister for Health 1986-88 and Minister for Small Business 1987–88. In 1990, she contested a by-election in Heffron, winning the seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly which had been vacated by her brother, who transferred to Federal Parliament. She was re-elected in 1991, 1995 and 1999.
Grusovin resigned in 2003, following defeat in a bitter preselection battle with Kristina Keneally in 2002. Grusovin threatened to take her case to the Supreme Court, but ultimately stepped aside and Keneally succeeded her in 2003.
In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the Parliament and the community of New South Wales, to education administration, and to social welfare.
