Page "Clare Martin" Paragraph 7

Martin worked hard to retain her seat, and was ultimately successful, holding Fannie Bay despite a heavy defeat for the ALP at the 1997 election.

She subsequently served as Shadow Minister for Lands under then leader Maggie Hickey.

When Hickey unexpectedly resigned in February 1999, Martin was in a position to succeed her, and was soon appointed as Opposition Leader.

She soon emerged as a vocal critic of the Burke government's policy of mandatory sentencing, and began preparing the ALP for the election, which was then two years away.