Premier to lose another Labor MP at 2024 poll
Regional Labor MP Barry O’Rourke won’t recontest the next state election, in a blow to the government’s hope of winning a fourth term with a majority.
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Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke says health issues will prevent him from recontesting the next state election, in a blow to Labor’s hope of winning a fourth term.
Mr O’Rourke, elected in the 2015 Labor landslide, told local radio on Monday he would not recontest the next state election in October.
He said major surgery on his back meant it was “time for me to take a step back”.
“Health issues slowed me down a little bit,” he said.
“I can’t guarantee I can do another four years after this one.”
Mr O’Rourke is expected to inform the Queensland Parliament of his resignation on Tuesday.
The Courier-Mail last month revealed former Rockhampton mayor Margaret Strelow was considering a tilt at the seat, which Mr O’Rourke holds with a two-party margin of 8.6 per cent.
He is the third male Labor MP, after Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden, to reveal they would not recontest the next election.
Mr O’Rourke’s resignation could help Labor meet its gender target of preselecting women in 45 per cent of the seats currently held by the government.
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