Jack Dempsey (politician) explained

Jack Dempsey
Office1:Mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council
Term Start1:19 March 2016
Term End1:2024
Predecessor1:Malcolm Forman
Successor1:Helen Blackburn
Office2:Minister for Police and Community Safety of Queensland
Term Start2:23 April 2012
Term End2:31 January 2015
Premier2:Campbell Newman
Predecessor2:David Gibson
Successor2:Jo-Ann Miller
Office3:Minister for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs of Queensland
Term Start3:3 April 2012
Term End3:23 April 2012
Premier3:Campbell Newman
Predecessor3:Curtis Pitt (ATSI Partnerships)
Annastacia Palaszczuk (Multicultural Affairs)
Successor3:Glen Elmes
Office4:Minister assisting the Premier of Queensland
Term Start4:3 April 2012
Term End4:23 April 2012
Premier4:Campbell Newman
Predecessor4:New office
Successor4:Glen Elmes
Constituency Mp5:Bundaberg
Parliament5:Queensland
Term Start5:9 September 2006
Term End5:31 January 2015
Predecessor5:Nita Cunningham
Successor5:Leanne Donaldson
Birth Place:Ireland
Birth Date:1966 4, df=yes[1]
Honorific-Prefix:Councillor
Nationality:Australian
Party:Independent
Otherparty:LNP (2008–2018)
National Party (2006–2008)
Spouse:Christine Dempsey
Occupation:Police 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

Opposition

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

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.

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

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

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

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

  1. News: The life and times of Jack Dempsey. The Courier-Mail.
  2. Web site: 2016 Bundaberg Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary. 19 April 2016. Queensland Electoral Commission. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123035134/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/local/LG2016/BundabergRegionalCouncil/results/mayoral/summary.html. 23 November 2018. live. 23 November 2018.
  3. News: Jack Dempsey officially declared Bundaberg Mayor after final votes counted in Qld council elections. Cansdale. Dominic. 30 March 2016. ABC News. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160823224932/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-30/jack-dempsey-officially-declared-bundaberg-mayor/7283846#. 23 August 2016. live. dmy-all.
  4. News: Families take high priority. Lion. Patrick. 12 October 2006. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia. 10.
  5. News: Flegg in from the cold in Opposition shuffle. 7 April 2009. Townsville Bulletin. Townsville, Australia. 9.
  6. Web site: Dempsey, John Mark (Jack). 21 June 2017. Queensland Parliament. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123034516/https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/bio?id=1806120668. 23 November 2018. live. 23 November 2018.
  7. Web site: Premier announces new Ministry. 30 March 2012. Department of Premier and Cabinet. 30 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120419154829/http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78933#. 19 April 2012. live. dmy-all.
  8. News: Former local police sergeant Jack Dempsey appointed Queensland's new police minister. 2012-04-17. Courier Mail. 22 November 2018. 5 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200905084538/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/former-local-police-sergeant-jack-dempsey-appointed-queenslands-new-police-minister/news-story/0f41caa491eea0fee87e49b1f69d06e4?sv=b87d5e273bfb6b581d1647f2e517ed12&nk=ed5daaeb65569b01702a01e0b6d08cd9-1599295538. live.
  9. News: New police minister for Qld after predecessor resigns. 18 April 2012. ABC News. 23 November 2018. 23 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123043541/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-17/jack-dempsey-named-new-qld-police-minister/3954914?site=centralvic. live.
  10. Web site: 2015 State General Election - Bundaberg - District Summary. 23 October 2015. Electoral Commission of Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20181123042947/http://results.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/state/State2015/results/district11.html. 23 November 2018. live. 23 November 2018.
  11. News: Bundaberg mayor turns against high cost of cashless welfare trial. Smee. Ben. 2018-05-21. Guardian Australia. 22 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001213256/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/21/bundaberg-mayor-turns-against-high-cost-of-cashless-welfare-trial#. 1 October 2018. live. dmy-all.
  12. 1511993983207350272. JohannaMarie_.
    1. BREAKING Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey has revealed (after months of speculation) he will run as an independent aga…
    . 7 April 2022.
  13. https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-166.htm Hinkler, QLD

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