Michelle O'Byrne

The Honourable Ambassador
Michelle O'Byrne
The Honourable Ambassador Michelle O'Byrne
Ambassador for Gender Equality
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 18 August 2025
Minister	Penny Wong (Foreign Affairs); Katy Gallagher (Women)
Preceded by	Stephanie Campbell
35th Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
	In office; 14 May 2024 – 19 July 2025
Premier	Jeremy Rockliff
Preceded by	Mark Shelton
Deputy Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party
	In office; 31 March 2014 – 15 May 2021
Leader	Bryan Green; Rebecca White
Preceded by	Bryan Green
Succeeded by	Anita Dow
Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass
	In office; 18 March 2006 – 11 June 2025
Member of the Australian Parliament for Bass
	In office; 3 October 1998 – 9 October 2004
Preceded by	Warwick Smith
Succeeded by	Michael Ferguson
Personal details
Born	Michelle Anne O'Byrne; 6 March 1968; Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Party	Labor
Spouse	Priam Arumugam
Relations	David O'Byrne (brother)
Alma mater	University of Tasmania
Occupation	Trade unionist, political adviser, Member of State Parliament
Website	taslabor.org.au/people/michelle-o-byrne/

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Michelle Anne O'Byrne (born 6 March 1968) is an Australian politician representing the Labor Party and from 2024 until 2025, served as speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. O'Byrne was elected in the 2006 state election to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the division of Bass. Prior to her election to state parliament she was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004, representing the Division of Bass. Since 2025, she has served as Ambassador for Gender Equality within the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In the 2024 Tasmanian state election, O'Byrne was the second most successful candidate across the state for the Labor Party, receiving 0.95 quotas in her own right in the first preferences alone, only outdone by then-leader, Rebecca White.

O'Byrne announced her retirement from parliament in the 2025 state election.