Bryson Head

Bryson Warwick Head (born September 1995)[1] is an Australian politician.

Bryson Head
MP
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Callide
Assumed office
18 June 2022
Preceded byColin Boyce
Personal details
BornSeptember 1995 (1995-09)
Brigalow, Queensland
Political partyLiberal National Party
Occupationgeologist

He has been the Liberal National Party member for Callide in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since a June 2022 by-election.[2][3]

Background

Head was born and raised on his family's beef and grain property, near Brigalow, Queensland.[4] Throughout his youth, he worked by mustering, cutting rosewood fence posts and picking watermelons.[5]

He attended the Queensland University of Technology where he studied a Bachelor of Science, majoring in earth science.[4]

Head is a qualified geologist and has worked in coal mines throughout Queensland and New South Wales as well as the oilfields of Canada.[4]

Head has also worked as a regional recovery support officer for the Federal Government's National Recovery and Resilience Agency, organising various events in drought and flood affected communities in Southern Queensland.[1][6]

Green Shirts Movement

As a vocal opponent to the vegetation management, animal welfare and reef regulations introduced by the Palaszczuk government, Head was appointed as the national campaign manager for the Green Shirts Movement which was launched in June 2018, led by national coordinator Martin Bella.[5][7]

According to Head, the movement aimed to "reclaim" the colour of green from extreme environmental groups and the "fake Greens" who had "strangled primary industry for decades".[7]

In an editorial published in the Queensland Country Life, Head described the "genuiune grassroots movement" as enabling the rural industry to defend itself against the "onslaught of lies, mistruths and fake news spread by extreme green groups, politicians and certain sections of the media."[7]

Political career

The retirement of federal member for Flynn Ken O'Dowd prompted the sitting member for Callide Colin Boyce to vie to be O'Dowd's successor in federal parliament.[8]

Expecting the resulting Callide by-election to be held after the 2022 Australian federal election, Head was endorsed by the LNP as their candidate in February 2022.[5]

Head campaigned chiefly on rural health issues, criticising the reduction of health services in the electorate including the closure of maternity services in places like Theodore which was seeing an increase in roadside births.[5] At a meeting held in Biloela about the issue of rural health services, which he attended his LNP leader David Crisafulli and shadow health minister Ros Bates, Head said he would have a "red hot crack" at fixing the issues.[9]

His successful election as the state member for Callide saw Head become the youngest MP to serve in the 57th Legislative Assemby of Queensland.[3]

In his speech, Head warned his fellow parliamentarians not to treat his electorate with disdain, stating that failing to do so would make "an enemy of me and my people."[4]

Head's maiden speech was criticised by the Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly who summarised it as: "let’s cut down the trees, let’s get rid of the Containers for Change program and if you come near anybody in my town I’m going to bash you up!"[10]

References
  1. "Member details: Mr Bryson Head". Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022. Birth date: 17 July 1995
  2. "LNP comfortably retains Queensland seat of Callide in by-election". ABC News. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  3. Crockford, Toby (19 June 2022). "Queensland's youngest MP elected after LNP claims Callide by-election". Brisbane Times.
  4. "Electral district of Callide: First Speech" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022. I was born and raised on my family farm north of Brigalow, not too far from Chinchilla and, yes, I do mean to say I was born there.
  5. Hardin, Ben (15 February 2022). "Geologist and farming advocate Bryson Head announced as LNP's Callide by-election candidate". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  6. Massie, Eilish (31 March 2022). "Meet Callide candidate Bryson Head (LNP)". Gladstone Today. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  7. Head, Bryson (13 March 2019). "Green shirts fight for agriculture". Queensland Country Life. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  8. Jurss-Lewis, Tobias; Culliver, Paul (12 July 2021). "The 'must watch' fight for Flynn, Queensland's federal battleground". ABC News. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  9. Offord, Geordi (23 March 2022). "David Crisafulli, Bryson Head, Ros Bates host Health crisis town hall in Biloela". The Observer. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  10. "Appropriation (Parliament) Bill: Health and Environment Committee, Report" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022. There are only a few minutes left for debate. I would love to spend some time talking about the new member for Callide and his contribution and his vision for the future—let's cut down the trees, let's get rid of the Containers for Change program and if you come near anybody in my town I'm going to bash you up! That is the future for the LNP.
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