Julian Simmonds

Julian Graham John Simmonds[1] (born 29 August 1985)[2] is a former Australian politician who was a member of the House of Representatives for one term from the 2019 federal election, representing the Division of Ryan in Queensland, until his defeat at the 2022 Australian federal election. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland and sat with the Liberal Party in federal parliament. He previously served on the Brisbane City Council from 2010 to 2019.[3]

Julian Simmonds
Member of the Australian Parliament for Ryan
In office
18 May 2019 – 21 May 2022
Preceded byJane Prentice
Succeeded byElizabeth Watson-Brown
Personal details
Born (1985-08-29) 29 August 1985
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLiberal / LNP
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationPolitician

Early life

Simmonds was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Journalism from the University of Queensland.[4]

Politics

Local government

Simmonds was elected to Brisbane City Council at a by-election in 2010, representing Walter Taylor Ward for the LNP. He was re-elected at the 2012 and 2016 local elections. Simmonds served as chair of the committees for public and active transport (2011–2012), finance, economic development and administration (2012–2016), and city planning (2016–2018). In his final speech to council in March 2019 he recalled there were "not many jobs that would give a 26-year-old the chance to help manage a $3 billion dollar budget".[5] He resigned as a councillor in April 2019 to contest the upcoming federal election and was succeeded by James Mackay.[6]

Federal politics

In May 2018, Simmonds defeated the sitting member Jane Prentice for LNP preselection in the Division of Ryan. He won the vote by 256 votes to 103,[7] in what The Courier-Mail described as "a bitter preselection battle".[8] He retained Ryan for the LNP at the 2019 election with a small negative swing.[9] Simmonds was the Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement.[10]

Simmonds lost his seat in the Division of Ryan during the 2022 federal election to the Australian Greens candidate Elizabeth Watson-Brown with a 10% negative swing against him.[11] On 26 May 2022, Simmonds conceded losing the electorate of Ryan.[12] Simmonds is a member of the centre-right faction.[13]

Business

Simmonds' wife Madeline Simmonds works as a communications manager for Bowen River Utilities, the proponent of the proposed Urannah Dam in Queensland. Companies linked to the dam have donated more than A$150,000 to the LNP.[14]

References
  1. "Qualification checklist" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. "Mr Julian Simmonds MP". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  3. "Mr Julian Simmonds MP". Australian Parliament. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  4. "Mr Julian Simmonds MP". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  5. "The Brisbane councillor who helped manage a $3b budget at age 26". Brisbane Times. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  6. Stone, Lucy (17 April 2019). "Schrinner's former ward still waiting for new councillor appointment". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  7. "Prentice dumping was a 'thrashing' that shocked party insiders. Will PM learn?". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  8. "Simmonds vs. Prentice: did Brisbane's planning chairman beat his mentor?". The Courier-Mail. 12 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  9. "Ryan". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  10. "Mr Julian Simmonds MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  11. "Ryan". ABC News. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. "Julian Simmonds concedes defeat in Brisbane electorate of Ryan".
  13. Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  14. "Urannah dam business case assumes massive growth in Queensland coalmining". The Guardian. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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