Jack Dempsey (politician)

Councillor
Jack Dempsey
Mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council
In office
19 March 2016 – 2024
Preceded byMalcolm Forman
Succeeded byHelen Blackburn
Minister for Police and Community Safety of Queensland
In office
23 April 2012 – 31 January 2015
PremierCampbell Newman
Preceded byDavid Gibson
Succeeded byJo-Ann Miller
Minister for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs of Queensland
In office
3 April 2012 – 23 April 2012
PremierCampbell Newman
Preceded byCurtis Pitt (ATSI Partnerships)
Annastacia Palaszczuk (Multicultural Affairs)
Succeeded byGlen Elmes
Minister assisting the Premier of Queensland
In office
3 April 2012 – 23 April 2012
PremierCampbell Newman
Preceded byNew office
Succeeded byGlen Elmes
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Bundaberg
In office
9 September 2006 – 31 January 2015
Preceded byNita Cunningham
Succeeded byLeanne Donaldson
Personal details
Born (1966-04-07) 7 April 1966 (age 58)[1]
Ireland
NationalityAustralian
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		LNP (2008–2018)
National Party (2006–2008)
SpouseChristine Dempsey
OccupationPolice officer

John Mark Dempsey (born 7 April 1966) is an Australian politician who served as the Mayor of the Bundaberg Regional Council from 2016 to 2024.[2][3] He previously served as the Queensland Minister for Police and Community Safety in the Newman Government and was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2015.

Political career

[edit]

Opposition

[edit]

A member of the National Party, Dempsey was first elected at the 2006 state election to the Electoral district of Bundaberg.[4] He became a member of the Liberal National Party when the National party merged with the Liberal Party in July 2008.

While in Opposition, Dempsey served as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services from 21 September 2006 to 12 August 2008. He was a member of the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee from 11 October 2006 to 16 June 2011, and was the Shadow Minister for Child Safety and Shadow Minister for Sport from 6 April 2009 to 29 November 2010.[5]

Dempsey was appointed the Shadow Minister for the Environment and the Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation from 29 November 2010 to 11 April 2011. He was appointed as Shadow Minister for Mining and Resource Management from 11 April 2011 to 19 February 2012.[6]

Newman Government

[edit]

In March 2012, the Liberal National Party won the 2012 Queensland state election. Dempsey was sworn in as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs and Minister assisting the Premier on 3 April 2012.[7]

On 16 April 2012 Dempsey was appointed acting Minister for Police and Community Safety following the resignation of David Gibson.[8][9] He was appointed to the office in his own right on 23 April 2012, with Glen Elmes taking his place as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister Assisting the Premier.[6]

In January 2015, Dempsey was defeated in the 2015 Queensland state election by Labor candidate Leanne Donaldson. Dempsey finished with the highest primary vote, however Donaldson was declared the winner following the distribution of preferences.[10]

Local Government

[edit]

On 19 March 2016, Dempsey was elected as Mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council, winning with approximately 71% of the primary vote.[2][3]

As at May 2018, Dempsey is not a member of any political party.[11]

He was re-elected as mayor in 2020 but lost in the 2024 election to Helen Blackburn.

Federal Politics

[edit]

In March 2022 Dempsey announced he would be an independent candidate for the lower house seat of Hinkler at the 2022 federal election.[12] He polled 13 percent of the vote, finishing third behind the LNP and Labor candidates.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The life and times of Jack Dempsey". The Courier-Mail.
  2. ^ a b "2016 Bundaberg Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Queensland Electoral Commission. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b Cansdale, Dominic (30 March 2016). "Jack Dempsey officially declared Bundaberg Mayor after final votes counted in Qld council elections". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  4. ^ Lion, Patrick (12 October 2006). "Families take high priority". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Flegg in from the cold in Opposition shuffle". Townsville Bulletin. Townsville, Australia. 7 April 2009. p. 9.
  6. ^ a b "Dempsey, John Mark (Jack)". Queensland Parliament. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Premier announces new Ministry". Department of Premier and Cabinet. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Former local police sergeant Jack Dempsey appointed Queensland's new police minister". Courier Mail. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  9. ^ "New police minister for Qld after predecessor resigns". ABC News. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  10. ^ "2015 State General Election - Bundaberg - District Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 23 October 2015. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. ^ Smee, Ben (21 May 2018). "Bundaberg mayor turns against high cost of cashless welfare trial". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  12. ^ @JohannaMarie_ (7 April 2022). "#BREAKING Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey has revealed (after months of speculation) he will run as an independent aga…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Hinkler, QLD, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.
[edit]
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Bundaberg
2006–2015 		Succeeded by


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