Marise Ann Payne (b. July 29 1964) is a Liberal Senator for the state of New South Wales in Australia. Senator Payne was appointed to the Senate on April 4, 1997, and elected in 2001 for a full term which began on July 1 2002. After growing up in Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands, Senator Payne went on to complete her education at MLC School, Burwood and her Bachelor of Arts and Laws at the University of New South Wales. A member of the Australian Liberal Party since 1982, Senator Payne was the National Young Liberal Movement's first, and to date only, female President (from 1989 to 1991) and had previously served as NSW state president during 1987 and 1988. She also served for 10 years on the NSW Liberal State Executive. Having served as a political adviser to some of the most significant figures in Liberal politics of their time, Senator Payne went on to a career as a public affairs adviser in the finance industry. Senator Payne is a member of a range of legislative and policy committees in the Australian Parliament, including:
- the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee (Chair from 1998 to 2007);
- the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (current Chair);
- the Senate Privileges Committee;
- the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Current Chair and Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee);
- the Attorney-General, Justice and Customs Government Members' Committee; and
- the Trade and Foreign Affairs Government Members' Committee (current Chair).
Outside of parliament, she is Chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum and works in the community on issues as diverse as human rights, emerging technologies and the issues relating to Australia's ageing population.
