With politics in her blood (her father, Ken Wriedt, was a former Labor Senator with the Whitlam Government, State Minister and State Labor Leader), Paula cut her political teeth working for the Field Labor Government.

Paula was elected in the seat of Franklin as a member of the House of Assembly in February 1996. She was appointed to Cabinet in 1998 when she became Minister for Education. This appointment saw her become Tasmania’s youngest ever female Minister.

Following the 2006 election Paula was appointed as Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment. This diverse portfolio brings together Tasmania’s unique natural and cultural assets. This portfolio includes responsibility for a wide range of areas including the Parks and Wildlife Service, Heritage, the Port Arthur Historic Site, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Prior to the 2006 election Paula held the Education portfolio for seven and a half years, during this time she was responsible for a significant number of reforms. Paula is a passionate believer in the importance of lifelong learning and was the guiding force behind Tasmania – A State of Learning, the state’s first post year 10 education and training strategy. She introduced an Act to raise Tasmania’s school leaving age, which from the start of 2008 will require all students to be engaged in learning, training or full time employment until they reach the age of 17.

As a mother of two young children Paula has also been a passionate advocate of the importance of the early years in a child’s life. She worked closely with child care professionals on a new Act and standards for the sector and in November 2005 introduced an Act to establish the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation.

Following her re-election in 2002 Paula was appointed Minister for Women. In 2005 she initiated the Tasmanian Honour Roll for Women as a way of recognising the significant contribution that women have made to the State throughout history. The Honour Roll is now a much anticipated annual event in the community.

Paula lives in Kingston where she is raising her two young children, Daniel (born in 2000) and Amy (born in 2001), with husband Dale Rahmanovic. Her interests are cooking, scrapbooking, reading, spending time with her family, camping and having a go at a diverse range of Adult Education courses.

Tourism 21 Website

Learning Together Website

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Franklin was named after Sir John Franklin (1786-1847), Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania (1837-1843). He also accompanied Matthew Flinders on a voyage to chart the south coast of Australia in 1801. He died on an expedition to the Arctic.

Franklin covers an area of approximately 7933 sq km from Bridgewater in the north to Port Davey in the south and Seven Mile Beach in the east. The City of Clarence is in the division of Franklin. Other major towns include Blackmans Bay, Bridgewater, Cygnet, Dover, Franklin, Geeveston, Huonville, Kingston, Margate and Snug as well as Bruny Island.

Products and industries of the area cover apples, pears, small fruits, fishing, beef cattle, sheep, forestry, cottage industry and tourism.

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