Neil Symes
Neil Symes | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Queensland Parliament for Lytton | |
| In office 24 March 2012 – 31 January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Lucas |
| Succeeded by | Joan Pease |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 December 1988 |
| Party | Independent (2015–2016, 2022–present) One Nation (2016–2022) Liberal National (until 2015) |
Neil Aaron Symes (born 11 December 1988) was an Australian politician who was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Lytton from 2012 to 2015.[1] He was the youngest member of the Queensland Parliament during his term.
Early life
Symes was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School.[2] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology and human services, majoring in child protection and family studies, from Griffith University in 2009.[3][4]
For nine months[4] in 2009 he worked as a community engagement officer at Acacia Ridge, including involvement in organising a multicultural festival.[3] He then became an employee of Woolworths Garden City,[5] as a 23-year-old working in the delicatessen section.[4]
Political career
At 23 years of age, and living with his parents outside the electorate bounds,[4] Symes was the youngest candidate for the Liberal National Party at the 2012 Queensland state election.[1] He was elected with 51.1% of the two-party-preferred vote, converting a safe Labor seat with a 12.2-point margin, into a marginal seat with a 1.64-point buffer. The seat had been in Labor hands without interruption for 40 years.[1]
In March 2013, Symes created a furore by taking to Facebook to vent his frustrations over a rally that took place in November 2012, which saw the Member for Lytton allegedly being threatened by protesters. In an article posted in The Courier-Mail, Symes warned he would "get his mates on to you" if any such threats took place again.[6]
Symes was defeated by Joan Pease in the 2015 Queensland state election on a swing of over 11 percent, enough to revert Lytton to its traditional status as a safe Labor seat.
Following the 2015 election, Symes resigned from the LNP, became a real estate agent,[7] and on 3 October 2016 announced via his Instagram account that he had joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.[8][9] He unsuccessfully contested the seat of Mansfield for One Nation at the 2017 state election.[10] He again unsuccessfully contested the seat of Jordan for One Nation at the 2020 state election.[11] As of mid-2022, he officially quit being a member of One Nation and stated he had no official ties to any political party in Australia.
Post-political career
Since 2021, Symes has been coaching club level soccer with Football Queensland.
References
- 1 2 3 Lytton – Queensland Votes 2012 Archived 26 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.au (4 April 2012). Retrieved 2 April 2013.
- ↑ Mason, James (2011). Churchie: The Centenary Register. Brisbane, Australia: The Anglican Church Grammar School. ISBN 978-0-646-55807-3.
- 1 2 "Neil Symes". Liberal National Party Qu eensland. 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 HELBIG, Koren (29 March 2012). "Lytton's newly elected MP Neil Symes swapped job at Woolworths for Parliament". news.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ Sullivan, Bianca (26 March 2012). "Lytton win for former Woolies worker Neil Symes". Wynnum Herald. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ↑ WARDILL, Steven (13 March 2013). "Don't make me get my mates on to you, warns Lytton MP Neil Symes". Courier-Mail. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ FOSTER, Sophie (18 July 2015). "Parliamentarian turns real estate agent". news.com.au. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "Beattie gives pollies advice on One Nation | News.com.au". Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ↑ CALDWELL, Felicity (14 May 2017). "What Campbell Newman's former ministers are doing now". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
- ↑ "2017 State General Election – Mansfield – District Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ↑ Mclennon, Matt (12 October 2020). "State election candidates from Logan and Jordan attend live-streamed Logan Country Safe City forum at Jimboomba Community and District Hall on Saturday". Jimboomba Times. No. 12 October 2020.