Senator the Hon Anne Ruston has been a Senator since 2012. She is currently the Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Shadow Minister for Sport and Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate. In 2014, Anne was elected Senior Deputy Government Whip in the Senate and Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee and in 2015 was appointed Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources. She was subsequently appointed as Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific in 2018. Prior to the 2022 election, Anne was a Cabinet Minister, holding the positions of Minister for Families and Social Services, Minister for Women’s Safety and Manager of Government Business in the Senate for three years. Prior to becoming a Senator, Anne held several senior positions in government and the private sector, including the inaugural CEO of the National Wine Centre. Born and raised on the River Murray in South Australia, Anne continues to have a strong connection with the Riverland community. She is passionate about regional South Australia and is the only SA Senator who maintains a regional electorate office.