Colin Boyce

Colin Einar Boyce (born 30 October 1962) is an Australian politician who is a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Division of Flynn since 2022.[1] He is a member of the Liberal National Party and sits with the National Party in federal parliament.[2]

Colin Boyce
MP
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Flynn
Assumed office
21 May 2022
Preceded byKen O'Dowd
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Callide
In office
25 November 2017 – 29 March 2022
Preceded byJeff Seeney
Succeeded byBryson Head
Personal details
Born (1962-10-30) 30 October 1962
Toowoomba, Queensland
Political partyNational (LNP)

Boyce was also previously the Liberal National Party member for Callide in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.[3]

Early career

Prior to becoming the state member for Callide, Boyce served as a councillor on Taroom Shire Council from 2005 until 2008.[4] In 2008, he unsuccessfully attempted to be elected as the Division 6 candidate on Banana Shire Council.[5] However, at a 2017 by-election, his wife Terri Boyce was elected to represent the same division.[5]

Boyce is a qualified boilermaker and farmer who has been described as "an old-style Queensland National".[6]

State politics

Boyce was elected as the member for Callide in the 2017 state election.

In August 2020, he attracted some media attention when he crossed the floor and voted against his own party, not offering his support for a bill to appoint a special commissioner to oversee mine rehabilitation.[6]

Federal politics

In January 2021 Boyce announced he would seek LNP preselection for the federal Division of Flynn to contest the 2022 federal election, following the retirement of Ken O'Dowd.[7] Boyce subsequently won pre-selection and was officially announced as the LNP's candidate for Flynn on 13 July 2021 while visiting the Gladstone Power Station with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Senator Matt Canavan and outgoing Flynn MP Ken O'Dowd.[8]

Boyce officially resigned from his position as the state member for Callide in Queensland Parliament on 29 March 2022.[9] Although Boyce wasn't required to resign until the federal election was officially called, he decided to do so to focus on his bid to win the Federal seat of Flynn, beginning by promoting the Australian federal budget which was handed down the night of his resignation from state parliament.[9] Boyce's decision to resign early drew criticism from Robbie Katter who said Boyce had missed the chance to side with the Katter's Australian Party to support their bill to wind back Great Barrier Reef regulations.[9] His resignation triggered the 2022 Callide state by-election, which Queensland speaker Curtis Pitt announced would be held on 18 June 2022.[10]

During his campaign to be elected as the member for Flynn, Boyce attracted media attention after making comments which appeared to question the Morrison government's plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by describing it as "flexible" with "wiggle room".[11][12][13]

Boyce was successful in his election to federal parliament in the election in May 2022, achieving a narrow victory over Labor candidate Matt Burnett.[14]

Following his election to federal parliament, Boyce was criticised by Queensland resources minister Scott Stewart who said during parliamentary question time on 24 May 2022 that Boyce had made it clear that he was "an LNP climate change denier."[15] This was followed by an article in The Guardian two days later which revealed Boyce was a foundation member of The Saltbush Club, and in 2019 had been a signatory to an international statement which claimed there was no climate emergency.[16][17]

References
  1. McBryde, Emma (25 May 2022). "Landry re-elected to Capricornia". CQ Today. Star News Group. Retrieved 3 June 2022. Former LNP State Callide MP Colin Boyce has managed to narrowly keep the seat of Flynn in the LNP's grasp in a tight race against Labor...
  2. "Colin Boyce". The Nationals. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. Green, Antony. "Callide". Queensland Election 2017. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  4. "Member Details: Mr Colin Boyce". Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. Thorpe, Andrew (22 June 2017). "LNP candidate no novice at the ballot box". The Observer. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. McCutcheon, Peter (13 August 2020). "Analysis: Why an LNP backbencher crossing the floor in Parliament is nothing for Labor to gloat over". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  7. Gall, Sally (5 January 2021). "Callide MP Colin Boyce puts hand up for LNP Flynn pre-selection". Queensland Country Life. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. Harden, Ben (13 July 2021). "Callide MP Colin Boyce announced as LNP federal candidate for Flynn electorate". Queensland Country Life. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  9. Dennien, Matt (29 March 2022). "Qld MP offers early resignation ahead of federal tilt as budget looms". Brisbane Times. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  10. Jones, Nilsson (24 May 2022). "Voters in Queensland state electorate of Callide return to polls on June 18 after Speaker Curtis Pitt declares by-election date". The Observer. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. Gould, Courtney (25 April 2022). "LNP candidate Colin Boyce says net-zero plan is not set in stone". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. Murphy, Katharine (25 April 2022). "Coalition candidate says net zero by 2050 is a 'flexible plan that leaves us wiggle room'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  13. Atkin, Michael (12 May 2022). "Voters in Flynn are in the middle of the climate change wars". 7.30. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  14. Jones, Nilsson; Plane, Melanie (23 May 2022). "Flynn candidate Matt Burnett calls to congratulate Colin Boyce". The Morning Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  15. Smee, Ben (24 May 2022). "Queensland's newest LNP MP sparks glee – from his former state politics opponents". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  16. Smee, Ben (26 May 2022). "New Coalition MP was founding member of club promoting climate science denial". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  17. "Our Founding Members" (PDF). The Saltbush Club. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
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