Vanessa Goodwin

Vanessa Goodwin (22 April 1969 – 3 March 2018) was an Australian politician. She was the Liberal Party member for the seat of Pembroke in the Tasmanian Legislative Council from the Pembroke by-election on 1 August 2009 until her resignation due to brain cancer on 2 October 2017.

Early life Goodwin was born in Hobart, Tasmania. She received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania, a Master of Philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Tasmania.

Career Goodwin was a criminologist and lawyer who had worked for the Department of Police and Public Safety. She was re-elected in 2013.

After the 2014 Tasmanian election, Goodwin was appointed Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Corrections and Minister for the Arts, as well as Leader for the Government in the Legislative Council.

Goodwin resigned on 2 October 2017 for health reasons.

Health and death On 25 March 2017, Goodwin was hospitalised with multiple brain tumours. On 6 April, Premier Will Hodgman informed the parliament that she was not expected to recover.

She died from brain cancer on 3 March 2018, aged 48, on the day of the 2018 Tasmanian state election.