The Minister for Housing, The HonTanya Plibersek MP, will discuss the need for greater collaboration between the States and Territories and the Commonwealth on the provision of affordable housing.  The Minister feels that policy in this area has been fractured for the last decade and has coincided with major drops in housing affordability. Reforms have been progressing as part of the current round of COAG processes.  Minister Plibersek will discuss the need for greater connection between State and Territory run public housing and urban planning policies and Commonwealth activity in housing.

Tanya grew up in the southern suburbs of Sydney, the youngest of three children. Her parents emigrated from Slovenia in the 1950s. She completed a Master of Politics and Public Policy at Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications (Hons) from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Tanya worked for the NSW Ministry for the Status and Advancement of Women on domestic violence policy and research before joining the staff of Senator Bruce Childs.

Tanya was elected to the Federal Parliament as the Member for Sydney in 1998 and became a shadow minister in 2004. During her time as a shadow minister, Tanya was responsible for a wide variety of issues including childcare, work and family, community, women, youth, human services and housing.

Following the election of the Rudd Government in 2007, Tanya was appointed the Minister for Housing and the Minister for the Status of Women.

Tanya and her husband Michael have a daughter, Anna and a son, Joe.

Tanya is fond of bushwalking and 18th Century novels.