Zoe Bettison was elected to the South Australian Parliament as the Member for Ramsay in 2012, and currently serves as Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs in the South Australian Malinauskas Labor Government.
She is focused on building back the visitor economy from the uncertainty and impacts of COVID-19, with attention on South Australia's brand pillars of ‘natural therapy’, ‘accessible provenance’, ‘wildlife encounters’, ‘boutique capital’ and ‘loves a party’. Zoe was also a key advocate in the unprecedented investment that has been made in Multicultural Affairs in South Australia.
From 2018-2022, Zoe held the role of Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.
Zoe became a Minister in 2014 and worked progressing the South Australian Government’s reform agenda on ageing, multicultural affairs, social housing and youth. During her time as Minister, she made energy bills cheaper for concession-holders, introduced the Cost of Living Concession, tripled the budget for multicultural affairs and gave people living in Retirement Villages a stronger voice.
Zoe has a longstanding interest in education, training and business investment. Participation in the economy for all South Australians is a key driver for her interest in politics.
Born in Whyalla, Zoe lived in Gawler and Kapunda where she attended Kapunda High School. She now lives in Salisbury with her husband and son.
She has a BA from Flinders University and a MBA from the University of Adelaide.
Prior to her election Zoe worked for an iconic Australian tourism operator and was a director of a public affairs company.
WHERE AND WHAT IS RAMSAY?
The district of Ramsay was created at the 1983 boundary redistribution and was contested and represented for the first time in 1985.
The electorate of Ramsay includes the suburbs of Salisbury, Salisbury Plain, Salisbury North Burton, Brahma Lodge, Elizabeth Vale, Direk, Salisbury South and parts of Paralowie and Elizabeth South.
It is named after Alexander Maurice Ramsay CBE, who was General Manager of the South Australian Housing Trust for over 25 years, and was a prominent figure in community affairs, devoting his talents to improving the lives of South Australians.