Anne Katherine Carnell (née Knowlman; born 30 May 1955) is an Australian businesswoman and former Liberal Party politician, who served as the third Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 1995 to 2000.
Early life and pharmacy career
Carnell was born on 30 May 1955, in Brisbane, Queensland. Her parents owned a small accounting business.
As a teenager she struggled with anorexia and went to hospital in Sydney to recover. She battled the illness for four years. serving in the position between 1988 and 1994, and National Vice-President of the guild between 1990 and 1994.
Kate Carnell is currently active as the inaugural SPA Council Chair as of January, 2025.
Politics
Carnell joined the Liberal Party in 1991 She became the Leader of the Opposition in 1993, succeeding Trevor Kaine.
After winning 7 of 17 seats in the 1995 ACT election, the Liberal Party formed a minority government with Carnell as Chief Minister. The government was re-elected in the 1998 election. She has held the portfolios of Minister for Health and Community Care (1995–1998), Minister Responsible for Multicultural and International Affairs (1995–2000), Minister for Business and Employment (1997–1998) and Minister for Business, Tourism and the Arts (2000).
Canberra hospital implosion
The Carnell Government was severely criticised following the death of twelve-year-old Katie Bender, when the de-commissioned Royal Canberra Hospital was imploded on 13 July 1997 to make way for the National Museum of Australia. Bender died instantly when she was struck by a one kilogram fragment of metal sliced through her head which had been thrown about 430 metres across Lake Burley Griffin by the force of the explosion.
The Coroner cleared Carnell as Chief Minister of any personal responsibility. The Coroner summarised that, "the evidence on this topic leads me to conclude that Carnell was poorly briefed and advised on this subject matter. The quality of the reply to the HSUA was sacrificed in the interests of speed and expediency". The project had a $27.3 million budget, of which $12.3 million was provided for by the ACT government and $15 million was to be sourced from the private sector. However, the project eventually cost $82 million, and was solely funded by the government. An ACT Auditor-General's review found that the project's $27.3 million cost estimate had not undergone proper assessment, review or analysis. Carnell had denied any wrong-doing and claimed that the Auditor-General had found that the cabinet was acting reasonably in the matter as she was determined to remain in office. The review also found that while private financing had been included in the project budget, no funds had been offered or provided by the private sector.
Resignation
Carnell resigned as Chief Minister on 17 October 2000, before the no-confidence motion was moved against her. She was replaced as Chief Minister by Gary Humphries.
Life after politics
After resigning her post as the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, Carnell has worked in a variety of positions.
- She made a successful bid for election to the NRMA board in August 2001. Carnell resigned her role as NRMA director in 2002.
- She was appointed chairperson of General Practice Education and Training Ltd by the health minister Michael Wooldridge in 2001,
- She spent three years as executive director of the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI).
- Between 2006 and 2008 Carnell was the chief executive officer at the Australian General Practice Network.
- In 2008 Carnell was appointed as the CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.
- She was the CEO of the non-profit organisation, beyondblue, from 2012 to 2014.
- Since March, 2016, Carnell was the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours list of 2006, for her services and contributions to the Australian Capital Territory.
On 29 July 2007, nearly a decade after her first marriage dissolved, Carnell and her long-term partner, Ray Kiley, married at a ceremony conducted at Old Parliament House in Canberra.
In April 2013, Carnell received an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra.
From June 2023, she served as co-convenor of the Liberals for Yes group, a group of Liberal Party supporters who support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, despite federal leader Peter Dutton being opposed to it.
Carnell has been appointed as the inaugural SPA Council Chair as of January, 2025.
Carnell has been interim chair of Beyond Blue since April 2024. She has been a member of their board since 2008.
Personal life
Carnell's daughter, Clare, is the co-founder of the Independents for Canberra party.
See also
- First Carnell Ministry
- Second Carnell Ministry
- List of female heads of government in Australia