Neil Symes
Neil Symes | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Queensland Parliament for Lytton | |
| In office 24 March 2012 – 31 January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Lucas |
| Succeeded by | Joan Pease |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 December 1988 |
| Political party | One Nation (2016–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2015–2016) Liberal National (until 2015) |
Neil Aaron Symes (born 11 December 1988) is an Australian politician who was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Lytton from 2012 to 2015.[1] He was the youngest member of the Queensland Parliament during his term.
Symes was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School[2] and Griffith University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology and human services, majoring in child protection and family studies. He has worked at the Acacia Ridge and Districts Community Centre in Brisbane's South-West working as a community engagement officer with the Indigenous and African migrant communities. He also had a pivotal role in organising the multicultural festival, Party on in the Park, in 2009.[3] Before running for Parliament, he was a deli worker at Woolworths.[4]
Political career[]
At 23 years of age, Neil Symes was the youngest candidate for the Liberal National Party at the 2012 Queensland state election.[1]
He was elected with 51.1% of the two-party-preferred vote, converting a safe Labor seat with a 12.2-point margin, into a marginal seat with a 1.64-point buffer. The seat had been in Labor hands without interruption for 40 years.[1]
In March 2013, Symes created a furore by taking to Facebook to vent his frustrations over a rally that took place in November 2012, which saw the member for Lytton allegedly being threatened by protesters. In an article posted in The Courier-Mail, Symes warned he would "get his mates on to you" if any such threats took place again.[5]
Symes was defeated by Joan Pease in the 2015 Queensland state election on a swing of over 11 percent, enough to revert Lytton to its traditional status as a safe Labor seat.
Following the 2015 election, Symes resigned from the LNP, and on 3 October 2016 announced via his Instagram account that he had joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.[6] He unsuccessfully contested the seat of Mansfield for One Nation at the 2017 state election.[7] He again unsuccessfully contested the seat of Jordan for One Nation at the 2020 state election.[8]
References[]
- ^ a b c Lytton – Queensland Votes 2012 Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.au (4 April 2012). Retrieved 2013-04-02.
- ^ Mason, James (2011). Churchie: The Centenary Register. Brisbane, Australia: The Anglican Church Grammar School. ISBN 978-0-646-55807-3.
- ^ Neil Symes. lnp.org.au
- ^ Sullivan, Bianca (26 March 2012). "Lytton win for former Woolies worker Neil Symes". Wynnum Herald. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ "Don't make me get my mates on to you". 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "2017 State General Election - Mansfield - District Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ Mclennon, Matt (12 October 2020). "State election candidates from Logan and Jordan attend live-streamed Logan Country Safe City forum at Jimboomba Community and District Hall on Saturday". Jimboomba Times (12 October 2020).
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- 1988 births
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