Marie-Clare Boothby
MEMBER FOR BRENNAN
SHADOW PORTFOLIOS
Shadow Minister for Tourism and Hospitality
Shadow Minister for Small Business
Shadow Minister for Jobs and Training
Shadow Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing
Shadow Minister for Women
ABOUT MARIE-CLARE
Born in 1977 once my parents had returned back to Darwin following Cyclone Tracy, my sister and I were raised to make our own decisions without judgment. We grew up in the Northern Suburbs where we rode our bikes across suburbs to hang out with friends from other schools without too much concern from the parents. We were home by dark and with that level of trust came a responsibility that we took seriously.
My parents were active members of community service clubs in the Top End for my whole childhood. We attended community events and fundraisers every weekend. This foundation of serving the community was inescapable and I continue to feel the same. My parents were also business owners who taught me valuable lessons of hardship, hope & hindsight.
When I left home I built a home in Palmerston, spent a few years in Darwin city before returning to Palmerston just before my first son was born.
Passionate when it comes to small businesses and the tremendous impact such enterprises have on the local economy and beyond, I believe private enterprise is the foundation of economic prosperity.
For 18 years I was in the leadership team of the Northern Territory’s most successful financial advisory firms. I’ve also spent 3 years assisting organisations to succeed in the online world through digital marketing initiatives. In addition, I was the Chair of Territory Proud for 3 years, a membership organisation of nearly 400 NT Businesses who use the brand to identify as locally owned and operated.
Raising a young family, living & working in Palmerston, I am blessed to have two young children who love to try out new sports & activities each year, meaning I am able to get to know different families each year and form strong relationships with the same organisations.
Knowing community, sporting and support groups are instrumental in peoples lives, I’ve spent years supporting organisations in raising awareness and funds and educate them on how they can do the same online.
I am also an extrovert so being extremely social and curious often allows me to really get to know people and I love hearing their stories and creating memories of new experiences.
I believe everyone should have the opportunity to secure financial certainty and Territorians deserve better than the nation’s highest cost of living. Inflation has increased 6% in the past year, which means you are paying more for groceries, housing and fuel than anywhere else.
Businesses are closing every day and people are moving interstate as our economy continues to suffer, with no plan or trust in leaders to improve the situation.
I believe in raising our families in a safe environment and ability to go about our lives without fear. We’re no longer scared of people who we see in horror movies, we’re scared of the groups of youths who hang around shops during the day and in suburb streets late at night.
I’ll be continuing to seek input from the Palmerston community as to what’s important to you, your aspirations and the challenges you face.