Judyth Watson

Judyth Watson OAM (8 March 1940 - 9 July 2023) was an Australian former politician.

The Honourable Judyth Watson OAM, PhD
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs; Seniors
In office 27 February 1991 – 16 February 1993
Premier	Carmen Lawrence
Preceded by	Pam Buchanan Carmen Lawrence
Succeeded by	Kevin Minson Graham Kierath
Minister for Women's Interests
In office 7 September 1992 – 16 February 1993
Premier	Carmen Lawrence
Preceded by	Carmen Lawrence
Succeeded by	Cheryl Edwardes
Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Kenwick
In office 4 February 1989 – 14 December 1996
Preceded by	New creation
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Canning
In office 8 February 1986 – 4 February 1989
Preceded by	Tom Bateman
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	Judyth Watson (1940-03-08)8 March 1940 Burton on Trent, England
Died	July 9, 2023(2023-07-09) (aged 83) Perth, Western Australia
Citizenship	Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Western Australia
Occupation	Nurse

Early life

Watson was born in Burton-on-Trent, England to Cecil and Hylda Watson in 1940. She emigrated to Australia in 1949 and went to school at Perth Modern School. After working as a nurse, Watson completed a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977. In 1981 she completed a PhD studying workers compensation.^[1][2][3]

Political career

In 1986 Watson was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Canning. On election she and Carmen Lawrence were the first female members of the WA Parliament to hold a PhD.^[2]

Watson was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs; and Seniors in February 1991 under Premier Carmen Lawrence. She was appointed Minister for Women's Interests in September 1992. She served in Cabinet until February 1993.^[4]

When the electorate was dissolved in 1989 she was elected to the electorate of Kenwick. After serving two terms, the seat was abolished and she unsuccessfully stood for the new electorate of Southern River.^[5]

Watson was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to the community of Western Australia, and to social justice".^[6]