FORMER Premier and Cabinet staffer, Wendy Bourne, has regained Ipswich West for Labor despite a 10.5 percent swing to the LNP compared to the 2020 election.
Ipswich West was one of only two new seats won by the Labor Party.
On Monday, Ms Bourne was reflecting on her journey towards a seat in Parliament from her loss in the March 2024 by-election to the LNPs Darren Zanow, to her win on Saturday against the LNPs Georgia Toft.
When she spoke with the Moreton Border News early that morning, she was preparing for her visit to the Leichhardt State School to represent Federal MP Shayne Neumann at the Premier’s Reading Challenge Assembly.
“Leichhardt school needs to be congratulated for what they do through their Indigenous program.”
Ms Bourne said she was “absolutely honoured” to be the new Member for Ipswich West.
She said her first steps would be to get her electorate office set up and establish herself there as well as training in the parliamentary process and running an electorate.
But Ms Bourne is far from daunted by her new role.
“My job for many years has been as a Ministerial staffer to former Premiers Annastacia Palaszczuk and Steven Miles, so I have years of experience helping people solve problems,” she said.
“I know how to navigate the system and have connections in the departments.
“A significant part of my new job will be to take people’s problems seriously and help them find solutions.”
She’s also determined to be highly visible in the electorate.
“I enjoyed my time doorknocking [during the election campaign]. It’s a humbling experience and it’s a most wonderful way of getting to know people – to step into their lives for a moment. I will continue doorknocking to keep in touch with the electorate.”
Ms Bourne is equally determined to hold a watching and advocacy brief on local infrastructure commitments and holding the new government to its promises.
“The state and federal governments have already committed $138 million to upgrading the Mt Crosby interchange, $42 million to the Bremer River Bridge and $20 million to a business case for an upgrade to the Amberley interchange. I want to keep those projects on track and make sure they are delivered.
“The LNP claimed that Ipswich had been neglected and made promises during both campaigns – one was improvements to the Walloon Schultz’s Road interchange.
“I will be working to keep them to their promises.
“We need funding for infrastructure in Ipswich West to meet the needs of one of the fastest growing regions.”
