Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | List | 4 | Green |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | List | 3 | Green |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | List | 3 | Green |
| 2008–2009 | 49th | List | 3 | Green |
As a member of the Green Party, Bradford first won election to the Parliament as a list MP in the 1999 elections. She had joined the Green Party in 1990, and had contested the 1998 Auckland mayoral election as the Green candidate. Before joining the Greens, she worked actively in the NewLabour Party, and served as its president from 1989 to 1990.
As of 2005 Bradford was the Green Party spokesperson on ACC, Agriculture, Buy Kiwi-Made, Community and Voluntary Sector, Community Economic Development, Gambling, Housing, Industrial Relations, Internal Affairs, Mental Health, National Library and Archives, Racing, Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Small Business and Social Development.
The New Zealand Herald selected Bradford as Backbencher of the Year for 2000.
Bradford has successfully pushed through three member's bills: removing the defence of "reasonable force" when corporally punishing or smacking children; letting mothers in jail to keep their babies for longer; and making the adult minimum wage apply to 16 and 17 year olds. It is considered an achievement for a backbench MP to pass a single member's bill, let alone three.
In 2009 Sue Bradford ran unsuccessfully against Metiria Turei to replace Jeanette Fitzsimons for the co-leadership of the Green Party. On 25 September 2009, Bradford announced her intention to resign as a Member of Parliament in late October, citing her disappointment at the loss and wish to take new directions. Bradford regretted not becoming a Cabinet Minister, especially a Minister of Housing and Social Development.
Read more about this topic: Sue Bradford
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