Llew O'Brien | |
|---|---|
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| Deputy Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
| In office 10 February 2020 – 11 April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Hogan |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Claydon |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forWide Bay | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Warren Truss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1972-06-26)26 June 1972 (age 53) Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal National |
| Other political affiliations | Nationals (parliamentary) |
| Spouse | Sharon O'Brien |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Awards | Queensland Police Service Medal |
| Website | https://llewobrien.com.au |
Llewellyn Stephen O'Brien (born 26 June 1972) is an Australian politician who has been a member of theHouse of Representatives since the2016 federal election, representing theDivision of Wide Bay. He wasdeputy speaker of the House from February 2020 to April 2022. He is a member of theLiberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) and sits with theNationals in federal parliament.[1]
O'Brien was born on 26 June 1972 inMona Vale, New South Wales. He left school at the age of 15 to become a full-time carer for his mother, who had been diagnosed withmotor neurone disease and died a year later. He subsequently worked as a labourer and factory process operator. He met his future wife Sharon when he was 17.[2]
O'Brien is one of just 4 members of the46th Parliament of Australia who did not graduate from high school, the others beingJulie Collins,Jacqui Lambie andTerry Young.[3]
Prior to his election, O'Brien served as a police officer. He joined theQueensland Police in 1999.[2] In his first speech in Parliament he spoke of his own decade long experience of living withposttraumatic stress disorder brought about while serving as a traffic accident investigator.[4] In December 2013, O'Brien was accused of having misused police resources[5] for political purposes.[6][7] He was investigated and faced managerial action, but was cleared of the allegations by Queensland Police.[8]
O'Brien has received both State and National medals for his Police service between 1999 and 2016. In 2010 he was awarded the Queensland Police Service Medal. In 2011 he was awarded theQueensland Flood and Cyclone Citation. In April 2015 he was awarded a 15-year clasp to the Queensland Police Service Medal. In 2016 he was awarded both theNational Police Service Medal and theNational Medal for ethical and diligent service.[2]
O'Brien became a member of theNational Party of Queensland in 2006, and joined theLiberal National Party of Queensland upon its formation in 2008. He has served in many roles within the parties, including Vice President, Regional Chairman, State Executive, Branch Chairman and Campaign Chairman.[9]
After the retirement announcement of long serving Member of Wide Bay and Deputy Prime MinisterWarren Truss, O'Brien waspreselected for the 2016 federal election and won the seat.[10] He has served on the Joint Standing Committees for the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity; and Law Enforcement; as well as the House of Representatives Standing Committees for Indigenous Affairs; and Infrastructure, Transport and Cities.[2] In 2016, O'Brien was also appointed as the Queensland Chair of theFederal Government's Black Spot Advisory Panel for 2016/17 by Minister for Infrastructure and TransportDarren Chester.[11]
In February 2020, O'Brien moved aspill motion forBarnaby Joyce to challengeMichael McCormack for leadership of the National Party. The challenge failed, and on 10 February O'Brien announced that he would no longer sit in the Nationals party room, but would remain a member of theLNP and continue to support the Morrison government.[1] O'Brien was subsequently elected asDeputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, having been nominated unexpectedly by the Opposition against the Government's nominated choice,Damian Drum.[12]
O'Brien rejoined the Nationals partyroom on 7 December 2020.[13]
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member forWide Bay 2016–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives 2020–2022 | Succeeded by |