Sarah Kaine

Dr Sarah Kaine is a member of the NSW Legislative Council and Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Issues. Starting with her with her first job in unions in 1995, Dr Kaine’s 30-year career in industrial relations and labour rights advocacy has spanned the union movement, academia, public service and now Parliament.

She began her career at the Australian Workers Union and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, later completing a PhD at the University of Sydney and serving as an Associate Professor at UTS for a decade. Sarah was an active NTEU member - being elected NSW Division President and staff representative on UTS Council where she advocated for the reduction of precarious work, limits to university executive pay and better representation of women. Her research and public advocacy have centred on labour standards, gender equity, and the role of organised labour in securing dignity at work. Sarah also held leadership roles, including Acting President and Vice-President, at the NSW Working Women’s Centre, a Community Legal Centre supporting women facing workplace issues, particularly those without union representation. This work deepened her commitment to gender equity and accessible workplace justice.

As Director of the Industrial Relations Inspectorate in the NSW Government, she oversaw compliance and enforcement of workplace laws giving her deep insight into the practical enforcement of labour laws. Her work has consistently highlighted the importance of collective representation and fair regulation, which she continues to champion in Parliament through advocacy for fair work practices, ethical procurement, and democratic governance in public institutions.

Sarah’s party involvement has included Vice-Presidency of the NSW ALP and Chair of NSW ALP Women’s Forum. She was a Director of the McKell Institute for 10 years. Through these roles, she has worked to strengthen the party’s commitment to gender equity, democratic participation, and progressive labour policy.