Immediately prior to that, she was CEO of Volunteering ACT from 1993 until October 2004 Born in Caterham, England of a Scottish background,[1] Mary arrived in Australia when she was 12.
In 1963 Mary graduated as a nurse from Wollongong Hospital and went on to work in New South Wales, Queensland and in the Aboriginal Community of Oenpelli (present-day Gunbalanya).
After the 2008 election the Labor minority government needed the support of the Greens, who had won a record result of 4 parliamentary seats.
Her efforts were strongly supported by the ACT Retirement Village Residents Association under the presidency of Pam Graudenz and eventually saw the unanimous passage of legislation on 22 August 2012.
After Labor formed a coalition government with the Greens following the election, the party nominated Porter for the office of Speaker this time.