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Jan Wade

b. 1937

Australian politician

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About Jan Wade

Born 1937. Jan Wade is an Australian politician, school teacher, university teacher and solicitor.

Jan Louise Murray Wade (née Noone; born 8 July 1937) is an Australian former politician.

She was born in Sydney to John Murray Noone and Lillian, née Knight. She attended Sydney High School and Firbank Girls' Grammar School in Melbourne, and graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1959 with a Bachelor of Law. She later attained a Bachelor of Arts in 1979.

She married Francis Bannatyne Lewis, with whom she had four children. From 1960 to 1961 she worked in London as a schoolteacher before returning to Australia as a law tutor at the University of Melbourne from 1963 to 1964. A solicitor from 1964 to 1967, she joined the Parliamentary Counsel's office in 1967, becoming Assistant Chief Parliamentary Counsel in 1978. Also in 1978, she married Peter Brian Wade, and, in so doing, acquired a step-daughter. In 1979, she was appointed Commissioner for Corporate Affairs and, in 1985, President of the Equal Opportunity Board. After her election she was appointed Shadow Attorney-General. She moved to Women's Affairs in 1989 but resumed her previous role in 1990. Following the Coalition victory at the 1992 state election she became Attorney-General, Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister for Women's Affairs.

She retired from politics in 1999, after which she was a visiting professor at Victoria University and a writer of an occasional column in the Australian Financial Review.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Melbourne
Positions held
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Attorney-General of Victoria
Employers
University of Melbourne, Victoria University
Also known as
Jan Louise Murray Wade

People in Jan Wade's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jan Wade's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Jan Wade?

Australian politician

When was Jan Wade born?

Jan Wade was born on 8 July 1937 in Sydney.

What is Jan Wade's occupation?

Jan Wade is a politician, school teacher, university teacher and solicitor.

What nationality is Jan Wade?

Jan Wade is Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jan Wade

· Wikidata: Q16104790

· DBpedia: Jan Wade

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jan Wade. https://biography.guide/jan-wade-politician/

MLA: "Jan Wade." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jan-wade-politician/.

Chicago: "Jan Wade." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jan-wade-politician/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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