She was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council (1982–2003) and held several ministerial posts.

[1] Her early political career was as an assistant to state and federal politicians before being elected to the Legislative Council in 1982.

She also presided over the expansion of the Art Gallery, the State Library, Festival Centre and Museum, and significantly boosted the South Australian Film Corporation.

[5] In 2001, while Minister for the status of Women, she saw her government's prostitution reform bill defeated in the Legislative Council.

[6] In 2003 Laidlaw was awarded an honorary doctorate by Flinders University, for "her commitment to creating a supportive climate for the visual and performing arts in the state".