Karen Andrews

Karen Andrews is an Australian politician and a member of the Liberal Party, representing the Queensland Division of McPherson since 2010.

Following the 2013 election, she took on a leadership position as chair of the House of Representatives Joint Standing Committee on Public Works, one of the oldest investigatory Committees of the Parliament, and a “watchdog” on Government building and works programs. Ms Andrews served in this capacity until December 2014, when she was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science. She was appointed Assistant Minister for Science from 2015 to July 2016 in the Turnbull Ministry and following the 2016 election, was appointed Assistant Minister for Vocational Education & Skills. In August 2018, Ms Andrews was elevated to Cabinet as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology under the Morrison government. Following a federal cabinet reshuffle in March 2021, Ms Andrews became the Minister for Home Affairs until May 2022 when the Liberal Party was defeated at the federal election. In June 2022, she became the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence in the Dutton shadow ministry.

Ms Andrews has experience in engineering and industrial relations, and ran her own human resources and industrial relations consultancy prior to politics.