Background
Gago was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, and completed her secondary education at Shepparton High School.
Gago was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, and completed her secondary education at Shepparton High School.
After high school, Gago studied at Phillip Institute of Technology and the Austin Hospital where she graduated as a registered nurse, later completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Monash University, majoring in psychology.
In 1988 Gago started working with the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) for 12 years, first as an organiser, later becoming assistant secretary and branch secretary. She has participated in and contributed to a range of state and federal health and industrial relations forums. Gago has held membership of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party since 1991, contributing to policy committees and serving as state convention delegate (proxy), state executive member and national conference attendee.
Gago is from the Labor Left faction.
Gago was elected to the Legislative Council from first position on the Labor ticket at the 2002 election and from second position on the Labor ticket at the 2010 election. After the resignation from Cabinet of Bernard Finnigan, Gago became acting Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
She was also the only in the Upper House. On 17 May 2011, the Labor Caucus elected Gago the state"s first woman leader of the Legislative Council.
Gago was also the state"s first female Acting Premier of South Australia.
Following the second term election of the Labor government in March 2006, Gago was appointed for Environment and Conservation, for Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Assisting the for Health. On 24 July 2008, Gago was appointed for State/Local Government Relations, for the Status of Women, for Consumer Affairs, for Government Enterprises and Assisting the for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy. On 8 February 2011, Gago was appointed for Regional Development, for Public Sector Management, for the Status of Women, for Consumer Affairs and for Government Enterprises.
On 21 April 2011, Gago was appointed for Gambling.
On 21 October 2011, Gago was appointed for Agriculture Food and Fisheries, for Forests, for Regional Development, for Tourism and for the Status of Women. On 21 January 2013, Gago was appointed for for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, for Forests, for Regional Development, for the Status of Women and for State/Local Government Relations.
Following the 2014 election, Gago was appointed for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, for Science and Information Economy, for the Status of Women, and for Business Services and Consumers in the Weatherill Labor cabinet. Gago announced her resignation from cabinet on 15 January 2016, citing cabinet renewal.
Gago also announced she will not contest the 2018 election.
As a member of the ANF, Gago was part of many campaigns to improve patient care, access to health services, wages and conditions for workers.
