Barry O'Rourke

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Barry O'Rourke
Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Rockhampton
Assumed office
25 November 2017
Preceded byBill Byrne
Personal details
Born (1963-11-17) 17 November 1963 (age 60)
Labor
Websitewww.barryorourke.com

Barry Leonard O'Rourke (born 17 November 1963) is an Australian politician. He has been the

Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2017.[1]

Career

Following the unexpected retirement of Labor MP Bill Byrne for health reasons, O'Rourke contested Labor preselection for Byrne's seat of Rockhampton.[2][3][4] His main opponent was Margaret Strelow, the mayor of Rockhampton, who was endorsed by the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk.[5] On 27 October 2017, O'Rourke defeated Strelow, who subsequently announced she would contest the election as an independent.[6][7]

At the November state election, O'Rourke was elected to succeed Byrne as the member for Rockhampton. Strelow recorded 23.5% of the vote and was second on the initial count, but Liberal National preferences pushed the One Nation candidate ahead of her and O'Rourke was elected on Strelow's preferences.[8][9][10]

On 13 November 2023, O'Rourke announced his intention to retire from politics at the 2024 election, citing health issues.[11]

References

  1. ^ Green, Antony. "Rockhampton". Queensland Election 2017. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. ^ Major twist in Rocky's Game of Thrones, The Morning Bulletin, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  3. ^ Volger, Sarah Annastacia Palaszczuk's attempt to endorse Margaret Strelow for the seat of Rockhampton backfires, The Courier-Mail, 18 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. ^ Volger, Sarah Queensland politics: Labor preselection voting opens in Rockhampton, The Courier-Mail, 20 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. SBS News
    , 13 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. ^ Votes counted: Premier congratulates Rocky's ALP candidate, The Morning Bulletin, 28 October 2017.
  7. ^ Bulloch, Shayla Meet Labor's new Rocky candidate, The Morning Bulletin, 28 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ^ Akers, Trenton Queensland election results 2017 - Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow could win seat, The Courier-Mail, 27 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. ^ Electorate: Rockhampton, Queensland Votes, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Accessed 5 December 2017.
  10. ^ Election victor rookie lays out his plans for Rocky, The Morning Bulletin, 30 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. ^ Johnson, Hayden (13 November 2023). "Premier to lose another Labor MP at 2024 poll". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Rockhampton
2017–present
Incumbent