Michaelia Cash
Counted against the divisions held while they sat, not the whole parliament. Absence from a division is not abstention: pairing arrangements, leave and parliamentary duties are not distinguished in the official record. How these figures are computed.
Background
| Born | 19 Jul 1970, Subiaco, Western Australia |
|---|---|
| Entered parliament | 1 Jul 2008 |
| Parliaments | 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th |
| Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts | Curtin University of Technology |
| Bachelor of Laws Honours | University of London |
| Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice | University of Western Australia |
Occupations before parliament
| Role | Organisation | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor (Senior Associate) | Freehills | 1999 – 2008 |
Positions held
| Role | Ministry | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Attorney-General | Taylor Shadow Ministry | 17 Feb 2026 | current |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (shadow) | Dutton Shadow Ministry; Ley Shadow Ministry; Taylor Shadow Ministry | 25 Jan 2025 | current |
| Shadow Cabinet Minister | Dutton Shadow Ministry; Ley Shadow Ministry; Taylor Shadow Ministry | 5 Jun 2022 | current |
| Temporary Chair of Committees | current | ||
| Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs | Ley Shadow Ministry; Taylor Shadow Ministry | 28 May 2025 | 17 Feb 2026 |
| Shadow Attorney-General | Dutton Shadow Ministry | 18 Apr 2023 | 28 May 2025 |
| Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | Dutton Shadow Ministry | 5 Jun 2022 | 28 May 2025 |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (shadow) | Dutton Shadow Ministry | 30 May 2022 | 25 Jan 2025 |
| Attorney-General | Morrison Ministry (2nd) | 30 Mar 2021 | 23 May 2022 |
| Minister for Industrial Relations | Morrison Ministry (2nd) | 30 Mar 2021 | 23 May 2022 |
| Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business | Morrison Ministry (2nd) | 29 May 2019 | 30 Mar 2021 |
| Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Morrison Ministry; Morrison Ministry (2nd) | 28 Aug 2018 | 29 May 2019 |
| Minister for Jobs and Innovation | Turnbull Ministry (2nd); Morrison Ministry | 20 Dec 2017 | 28 Aug 2018 |
| Minister for Employment | Turnbull Ministry; Turnbull Ministry (2nd) | 21 Sep 2015 | 20 Dec 2017 |
| Minister for Women | Turnbull Ministry; Turnbull Ministry (2nd) | 21 Sep 2015 | 20 Dec 2017 |
| Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service | Turnbull Ministry; Turnbull Ministry (2nd) | 21 Sep 2015 | 20 Dec 2017 |
| Cabinet Minister | Turnbull Ministry; Turnbull Ministry (2nd); Morrison Ministry; Morrison Ministry (2nd) | 21 Sep 2015 | 23 May 2022 |
| Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | Abbott Ministry; Turnbull Ministry | 18 Sep 2013 | 21 Sep 2015 |
| Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women | Abbott Ministry; Turnbull Ministry | 18 Sep 2013 | 21 Sep 2015 |
| Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate (shadow) | Abbott Shadow Ministry | 19 Sep 2012 | 5 Aug 2013 |
| Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration | Abbott Shadow Ministry | 14 Sep 2010 | 18 Sep 2013 |
| Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women | Abbott Shadow Ministry | 14 Sep 2010 | 18 Sep 2013 |
Committee service
| Committee | Role | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity Joint Statutory | Deputy Chair | 16 Mar 2012 | 5 Aug 2013 |
| Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 18 Aug 2011 | 11 Nov 2013 |
| Migration Joint Standing | Member | 1 Jul 2011 | 5 Aug 2013 |
| Australia's Immigration Detention Network Joint Select | Member | 22 Jun 2011 | 30 Mar 2012 |
| Christmas Island Tragedy Joint Select | Member | 3 Mar 2011 | 29 Jun 2011 |
| Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation (formerly Regulations and Ordinances) Senate Standing | Member | 2 Feb 2010 | 7 Feb 2013 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Deputy Chair from 2 Feb 2010 to 23 Aug 2011 | 14 May 2009 | 23 Aug 2011 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Chair from 2 Mar 2010 to 27 Sep 2010 | 14 May 2009 | 23 Aug 2011 |
| Climate Policy Senate Select | Member | 17 Mar 2009 | 15 Jun 2009 |
| Men's Health Senate Select | Member | 3 Feb 2009 | 12 May 2009 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 1 Jul 2008 | 13 May 2009 |
| Treaties Joint Standing | Member | 1 Jul 2008 | 7 Jul 2011 |
Memberships as the Parliamentary Handbook records them; current means no end date is recorded.
Election history
| Election | Electorate | Party | First pref % | Swing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Liberal | 31.67 | Elected 2nd of 6 | |
| 2016 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Liberal | 38.49 | Elected 4th of 12 | |
| 2014 WA Senate election | Senate, Western Australia | Liberal | 34.06 | Elected 4th of 6 | |
| 2013 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Liberal | 39.20 | Elected 3rd of 6 | |
| 2007 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Liberal | 46.22 | Elected 5th of 6 |
First-preference share of the formal vote at each event, matched by name within the member's state. A Senate row gives the whole group's share of the state's formal vote, since most Senate votes are cast for a group above the line.
Parliamentary expenses
| Category | Apr-Jun 2026 | Jan-Mar 2026 | Oct-Dec 2025 | Jul-Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Travel | $106,168 | $97,843 | $77,101 | $87,597 |
| Office Facilities | $58,849 | $66,820 | $63,708 | $60,959 |
| Office Administration | $22,257 | $23,327 | $27,888 | $21,409 |
| Scheduled Commercial Transport | $33,341 | $16,333 | $12,943 | $24,780 |
| Travel Allowance | $15,610 | $13,522 | $3,384 | $13,332 |
| Other Car Costs | $11,054 | $6,809 | $5,522 | $8,473 |
| Family or Nominee Travel | $2,266 | $1,431 | $0 | $0 |
| Telecommunications | $320 | $456 | $456 | $458 |
| Unscheduled Commercial Transport | $1,581 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $251,446 | $226,541 | $191,003 | $217,007 |
Expenditure as the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority publishes it each quarter, in its own categories, rounded to the dollar. Travel distances, office locations and roles differ, so totals do not compare between members. IPEA's reports and notes.
Funding disclosures
| Election | Electorate | Donations | Donors | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2016 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2014 WA Senate election | Senate, Western Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2013 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Nil return | ||
| 2007 federal election | Senate, Western Australia | Nil return | ||
Returns as lodged with the AEC: a candidate's return covers the gifts received and electoral expenditure for that election, a member's annual return the gifts received in the financial year. A nil return records no gifts or spending of the candidate's own. A party-endorsed candidate lodges one when the party or its campaign committee handled the campaign's money, and the party discloses it in its own returns. AEC Transparency Register.
Bills raised
| Bill | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Members of Parliament (Staff) Amendment (Providing Certainty and Improving Integrity) Bill 2025 | Sponsor | Not Proceeding |
| Sex Discrimination Amendment (Restoring Common Sense and Recognising Biological Sex) Bill 2026 | Sponsor | Not Proceeding |
Sponsor marks the member's own bill; Introduced marks bills they moved, typically as the responsible minister.
Voting record 172 divisions
Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikidata, Parliamentary Handbook, AEC (CC BY 4.0), IPEA (CC BY 3.0 AU), AEC disclosures (CC BY 4.0), They Vote For You (ODbL). Errors? Request a correction.