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Jane Lesley Aagaard (born 1956) is an Australian former politician. She was a Labor Party member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2012, representing the Darwin-based electorate of Nightcliff. She was the Speaker of the Assembly from June 2005 until October 2012—the first Labor member ever to hold the post. Prior to holding the speakership, she had served as Health Minister from 2001 to 2003.
In 1986, she accepted a position with the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy, and settled with her husband in Darwin.
Aagaard also became heavily involved in many aspects of the Darwin community. She helped found the Brolga Awards and Northern Territory Sports Awards, and continued organising both presentations for several years. Not long before entering parliament, she had also organised the city's commemoration of its bombing by forces during World War II.Smith, Camden. "Aagaard to stand for Nightcliff seat". Northern Territory News, 7 March 2001.
When former Chief Minister Stephen Hatton, the longtime CLP member for Nightcliff, retired at the 2001 election, Aagaard ran as the Labor candidate against Hatton's son, Jason. In a shock result, Aagaard won the seat on an unexpectedly large swing of 11.7 percent that saw the previously marginal Nightcliff technically become a safe Labor seat. Aagaard's victory was part of a six-seat swing to Labor that saw the party win government for the first time ever, mainly on the strength of a strong performance in the Darwin area. She was reelected in 2005, picking up a healthy swing of 8.5 percent.
In March 2012, Aagaard announced that she would not contest the next election due to "ongoing medical issues that would require treatment and surgery". In November 2012, Aagaard was granted the title The Honourable for life. Ms Jane Lesley Aagaard granted the title "Honourable" for life, Commonwealth Government Gazette C2012G00283, S No. 177 of 2012, 20 November 2012.
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