Before entering politics she was a lecturer and a partner in a small business.
She was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1994 in a by-election for the seat of Helena, representing the Liberal Party; she moved to Ballajura in 1996.
She was a parliamentary secretary from 1995 to 1997, first to the Minister for Education and then to the Minister for Tourism, before winning a promotion herself as Minister for Family and Children's Services, Seniors and Women's Interests in 1997.
She stepped down from the front bench in 1999 and was defeated in 2001.