Jaala Pulford

Jaala Pulford (born 14 February 1974) is a former Australian politician. She was a Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council between 2006 and 2022, representing the Western Victoria Region.

Pulford was Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional Development and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council between 4 December 2014 and 30 November 2018 following the election of the Andrews Labor Government. She was appointed Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, and Fishing and Boating on 30 November 2018. In June 2020, Pulford was appointed Minister for Small Business; Minister for Employment; and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy and in August 2021, she was additionally appointed Minister for Resources.

Early life Pulford grew up in Castlemaine and attended Bendigo Senior Secondary College. She worked as an Organiser for the National Union of Workers Victorian Branch between 1994 and 2006. She was Victoria's first female Agriculture Minister, and oversaw significant reform, including the establishment of Regional Partnerships and a medicinal cannabis industry, the mandatory electronic tagging of sheep, Victoria's first digital agriculture program, greater animal welfare protection, and attracting recreational fishers to Victoria.

On 30 November 2018, Pulford was appointed Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC, and Fishing and Boating in the re-elected Andrews Government.

On 22 June 2020, Pulford was appointed Minister for Small Business; Minister for Employment; and Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy.

On 23 August 2021, Pulford was appointed Minister for Resources.

Personal life Pulford is married with a son and lives in Ballarat. Her daughter Sinead died of cancer in 2014, aged 13.