Diana Laidlaw

Early life Laidlaw was born in London, the daughter of Don Laidlaw and Vivienne Laidlaw (née Perry), both law graduates of the University of Adelaide. Her grandfather was the founder of Perry Engineering.

Laidlaw variously served as the Minister for Transport (1995–1997), the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning (1997–2002), the Minister for the Arts (1993–2002), and the Minister for the Status of Women (1993–2002).

As Minister for the Arts, she presided over the establishment of several new arts organisations, including the Windmill Performing Arts for Children, the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, and the very successful 1998 production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. She also promoted and advocated for Music Business and Music House, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Country Arts SA and the Adelaide Fringe Festival. It was Laidlaw who succeeded in obtaining funding for redevelopment of the North Terrace precinct, the riverbank development and the West End and Hindley Street precincts. She also presided over the expansion of the Art Gallery, the State Library, Festival Centre and Museum, and significantly boosted the South Australian Film Corporation.

In 2001, while Minister for the status of Women, she saw her government's prostitution reform bill defeated in the Legislative Council. She is said to have been moved to tears, and called her colleagues "gutless".

Honours and awards In 2003, Laidlaw was awarded an honorary doctorate by Flinders University, for "her commitment to creating a supportive climate for the visual and performing arts in the state".