Barry O'Rourke
MP
Barry O'Rourke, 2022
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Rockhampton
Assumed office
25 November 2017
Preceded byBill Byrne
Personal details
Born (1963-11-17) 17 November 1963
Ayr, Queensland
Political partyLabor
Websitewww.barryorourke.com

Barry Leonard O'Rourke (born 17 November 1963) is an Australian politician. He has been the Labor member for Rockhampton in 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. ↑ Labor divided in Rocky path to Qld poll, 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.
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