Before entering politics King worked as a commercial lawyer in Australia and overseas, as well as in various roles at the University of Western Australia. Immediately prior to entering Parliament she was the chief operating officer of the Perth USAsia Centre, a think tank based at UWA.[2]
Early life
King was born on 31 March 1973 in Calista, Western Australia.[3][2] She is the youngest of five children born to Diana Eve Pizer and John Harvie Morris. Her father was born in England and served in the Royal Navy, moving to Australia to work at the Kwinana Oil Refinery. Her mother owned a drapery shop in Rockingham.[4]
King worked as a commercial lawyer in private practice from 1997 to 2005,[2] working in England for a period following her marriage to her husband, Jamie King.[5]
She then joined UWA's legal department as a research contracts lawyer (2005–2008), later working as chief of staff to the vice-chancellor Alan Robson (2008–2011) and principal advisor of strategic projects (2012–2013). She oversaw the university's centenary celebrations in 2013. Immediately prior to entering Parliament she was the chief operating officer of the Perth USAsia Centre, a think tank based at UWA.[2]
In March 2016, King won ALP preselection unopposed for the Division of Brand, following Gray's retirement.[7] She retained the seat for the ALP at the 2016 federal election, increasing the swing to Labor from a nominal 3.7 points to 7.7 points, making Brand one of Labor's safest federal seats in Western Australia.[8] She is a member of the Labor Right faction.[9][10]
In June 2018, King was promoted to the opposition frontbench replacing Tim Hammond. King was appointed the consumer affairs portfolio and was also made an Assistant Shadow Minister in the small business and resources portfolios.
In the 2019 election King was re-elected for a second term with a primary vote of 40.38% and a two-party preferred vote of 56.66%. King was shortly after appointed Shadow Minister for Trade and Shadow Minister for Resources in the new Anthony Albanese-led Shadow Cabinet.
Following the 2022 election King was re-elected for a third term with a primary vote of 50.2% and a 66.71% two party preferred vote (+10.05% swing).