Jonty Bush | |
|---|---|
| Member of theQueensland Legislative Assembly forCooper | |
| Assumed office 31 October 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Kate Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jonty Maree Bush (1979-06-25)25 June 1979 (age 46) Austins Ferry,Tasmania, Australia |
| Party | Labor |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Griffith University University of the Sunshine Coast |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | www |
Jonty Maree Bush (born 25 June 1979)[1] is an Australian politician, and theLabor state member forCooper in theQueensland Legislative Assembly. Bush is a former public servant and community advocate, having been theCEO of the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group.
She was the 2009Young Australian of the Year for her advocacy for victims of crime and the development of the One Punch Can Kill campaign.
Bush was born inAustins Ferry,Tasmania in 1979,[2] and relocated with her family to the Southern Burnett town ofKilkivan when she was 14 and completed high school between Kilkivan andGympie. Bush, her father and brother relocated to the Sunshine Coast where Bush attendedSunshine Coast University to earn a bachelor's degree in business. Bush later graduated fromGriffith University with a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice.[3]
Bush joined the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group in 2000 as a volunteer after the homicides of her sister (to domestic violence) and her father (a coward punch assault).[4] During her time with the company, Bush was promoted to Family Support Officer, Volunteer Coordinator and eventually to chief executive officer in 2007, making her the first CEO with lived experience in the organisation.
Bush led a number of policy and legislative reforms to strengthen the rights of victims of crime in Queensland. Additionally, Bush initiated an anti-violence campaign called One Punch Can Kill, educating people about the impacts of even one punch.[5] In 2012, Bush started Project 24, which focuses on fundraising for agencies that specialise ingender-based violence prevention.[6]
From 2010 to 2020 Bush worked in theQueensland Public Service, including atVictim Assist Queensland, the Office of the Public Guardian, and theDepartment of Premier and Cabinet.[7][8][3] She was also a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council from 2010 to 2012.[9]
Bush was elected a vice-president ofQueensland Labor in 2020, and is Patron of two internal party groups, the Labor Environmental Action Network and Labor Enabled.[10]
At the2020 Brisbane City Council election, Bush ran for theEnoggera Ward and was defeated by incumbent councillor Andrew Wines, despite a swing towards her.[11][12]
Bush was selected as theLabor candidate forCooper at the2020 Queensland state election, following the retirement ofKate Jones. She was successful and won the seat with a 10.5% margin.[13][14] During her term, Bush served as a member of four parliamentary committees including the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee since February 2024.[7]
At the 2020 election, Bush and the Labor Party made several commitments to improve infrastructure at state schools in the Cooper electorate including an upgraded swimming pool amenities block atIthaca Creek State School and an upgraded tuckshop atThe Gap State High School, which were completed during her term.[15] Bush also promised $2.4 million for an upgraded clubhouse forGPS Rugby and Valley's District Cricket Club atAshgrove, which opened in 2023.[16]
Bush supported theVoluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021, which legalisedvoluntary assisted dying in Queensland. The Bill was passed in aconscience vote (60–29) on 16 September 2021.[17][18]
In 2023, Bush advocated for stronger environmental protections for theLake Eyre Basin andChannel Country from mining activities. AfterSteven Miles became Premier in December 2023, the State Government announced increased protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Basin.[19][20] As an MP in the Miles Government, she also supported theClean Economy Jobs Act 2024 andEnergy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Act 2024, which legislated stronger renewable energy targets for Queensland (50 percent by 2030, 70 percent by 2032, 80 percent by 2035) and the phasing-out of coal-fired power generation by 2036, as well as stronger emissions reduction targets of 75 percent by 2035 and net zero by 2050.[21][22]
As Member for Cooper, Bush campaigned in 2023 against a McDonald's development occurring on Waterworks Road in Ashgrove based on opposition from local residents and small businesses.[23][24]
In response to sexual assaults and harassment against women along the hiking trails in theMount Coot-tha bushlands, Jonty Bush and the Trail Running Association of Queensland organised a community event 'Reclaim the Trails' against gender-based violence in August 2024. The event took place at theJC Slaughter Falls section of the Mount Coot-tha bushlands and was attended by 300 walkers, hikers and runners.[25][26]
During the2024 Queensland State Election, Bush ran as the Labor incumbent, and while being a target seat[27] for the Greens candidateKatinka Winstom-Allom, ultimately emerged victorious with a swing towards her of 0.7% (leaving the seat classed as a safe Labor seat).[28]
Bush is in ade facto partnership and has one child and three step-daughters.[29]
Bush won the YoungAustralian of the Year Award in 2009 in recognition of her work in advocacy for victims of crime in Queensland and her work in community safety education with the One Punch Can Kill campaign.[30]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Parliament of Queensland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member forCooper 2020–present | Incumbent |