Christine Smith (politician)

Christine Anne Smith (born 11 October 1946) is an Australian Labor Party politician. She represented the electoral district of Burleigh in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 2001 to 2012.[1]

Christine Smith
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Burleigh
In office
17 February 2001 – 24 March 2012
Preceded byJudy Gamin
Succeeded byMichael Hart
Personal details
Born (1946-10-11) 11 October 1946 (age 78)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor (until 2020)
OccupationPublic servant

Prior to becoming an MP she worked with Centrelink.[1]

Smith is a justice of the peace (qualified) and has been involved in many local community organisations. She is a member of the Qld Mental Health Association and committee member of the Gold Coast Branch, Palm Beach Police Consultative Committee, Burleigh Heads Lions Club, Girl Guide Trefoil Group, Creek to Creek Chamber of Commerce and an honorary member of the Burleigh Heads Scouts. She is also patron of various organisations including the Order of the Old Bastards, the Coolamon Chorale, the Gold Coast Horse & Carriage Club, the Miami Tennis Club, Care for Life Suicide Prevention and Burleigh Heads Pensioners Association. She is also vice-president of Palm Beach SLSC.

Smith and her husband Robert have been married for 41 years. They raised two sons and have two grandsons.

Their eldest son battled mental illness for many years, inspiring Smith to become vocal in the fight to raise the profile of mental illness and to seek more funding.[2]

She publicly resigned from the Queensland Branch of the Australian Labor Party, after more than 30 years of membership, following the announcement of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's pick to run in her previously held seat of Burleigh in 2020, former Surfing World Champion Wayne Bartholomew.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. ^ Scott, Leisa (4 February 2006). "accidental politician". QWeekend Magazine. Brisbane, Australia. p. 2.
  3. ^ "State election 2020: Ex-Burleigh MP Christine Smith quits Labor Party over Palaszczuk captain's call". Gold Coast Bulletin. 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Burleigh
2001–2012
Succeeded by