A by-election for the Stafford seat in Brisbane is set for May 16, following the passing of independent Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan.<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old was discovered deceased at his residence in Brisbane’s northern region earlier this month, with authorities indicating that the circumstances surrounding his death were not suspicious.<\/p>\n
Mr. Sullivan, who had been serving as an independent after his removal from the Labor caucus last year, faced significant scrutiny regarding personal matters. The Liberal National Party (LNP) government had previously urged his resignation following allegations related to a domestic incident raised in parliament.<\/p>\n
First elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, Mr. Sullivan represented a seat historically dominated by Labor, which has secured victory in nine of the last ten elections.<\/p>\n
The Stafford electorate includes neighborhoods such as Stafford, Chermside, and Kedron in Brisbane\u2019s northern area.<\/p>\n
Premier David Crisafulli announced that Queensland Governor Jeanette Young had issued writs this morning, officially initiating the by-election process. He emphasized the necessity for residents of Stafford to have representation, especially with the state budget approaching in June.<\/p>\n
“We are navigating through notably uncertain times. It is crucial for this community to have a voice,” he remarked. “Regardless of their political affiliations, representation is a fundamental aspect of our democracy.”<\/p>\n
Opposition Leader Steven Miles described the by-election as a chance for citizens to express their opinions about the government\u2019s performance. “This by-election serves as a referendum on a government that has failed to meet the needs of Queenslanders, especially those who are struggling now more than ever,” he asserted.<\/p>\n
Both the Labor Party and the LNP have yet to finalize their candidates for the upcoming election.<\/p>\n
The campaign was further ignited by the state government’s recent appeal for the federal government to expedite environmental approvals for oil projects in the Taroom Trough region of southern Queensland. Today, the premier also revealed ongoing discussions regarding the potential establishment of a new fuel refinery in Gladstone.<\/p>\n
Addressing the public from a Brisbane service station, Mr. Crisafulli described the by-election as an opportunity for residents to endorse the government\u2019s vision. “It is a chance for the people of Stafford to express their support for our plan to manage our own destiny and secure our fuel supply,” he stated. “It also sends a message to parties like Labor and the Greens, who continue to obstruct progress.”<\/p>\n
In response, Mr. Miles, speaking outside the Lytton oil refinery in Brisbane, criticized the government\u2019s handling of the fuel crisis. “Queenslanders are discussing how to make ends meet and how to afford fuel for their vehicles at the dinner table,” he noted. “David Crisafulli has thus far failed to take meaningful action to support Queenslanders during this unprecedented affordability crisis. He has shown himself to be a premier focused solely on photo opportunities rather than delivering real solutions.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A by-election for the Stafford seat in Brisbane is set for May 16, following the passing of independent Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan. The 44-year-old was discovered deceased at his residence in Brisbane’s northern region earlier this month, with authorities indicating that the circumstances surrounding his death were not suspicious. Mr. Sullivan, who had been serving […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10702,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[43,1388],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-au-state-and-territory-elections"],"yoast_head":"\n