Jonty Bush runs for Brisbane City Council

A former Young Australian of the Year and face of one-punch campaigns has thrown her hat in the ring for City Hall, after a quashed debate “really got her goat”.

Jonty Bush is running for Brisbane City Council in the seat of Enoggera.

A QUASHED debate on gender parity in Brisbane City Hall spurred Jonty Bush to “make some inquiries” and eventually landed her in the running for the council.

The former Young Australian of the Year, victims advocate and anti-violence campaigner is the Labor candidate for Enoggera ward.

She will go up against the LNP’s Andrew Wines, who holds the ward with a 5.6 per cent margin.

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“For me, local government is really where it’s at, it’s where the rubber hits the road. It’s about communities, people, neighbourhoods and how do we come together to design what they could look like.”

Ms Bush’s passion for justice was forged during her work with victims of homicide after her father, Robert, and sister, Jacinta, were killed.

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She joined the Homicide Victims’ Support Group, later became its chief executive officer, and was a key driver for the One Punch Can Kill campaign.

Jonty Bush is running for Brisbane City Council in the seat of Enoggera.

Now, she works for the Department of Justice, and has worked with victim support, child services, victims of crime, child protection, disability, mental health and criminology.

She said “what got (her) goat” was the LNP administration’s move to shut down Labor’s motion that the council require gender parity on the council’s boards on International Women’s Day last March.

“We’re not talking disability, we’re not talking ethnicity, we’re not talking about people with a lived experience of homelessness, we’re just talking about simple gender diversity and if that cannot even get up – that just pushed every one of my injustice buttons,” she said.

“I started making inquiries on that, because I felt we deserved better, and that’s really it. Those inquiries have led to this.

A sticky point for the 40-year-old is her Kenmore Hills address, which puts her in Pullenvale Ward, although she said Enoggera was her “second home” and she would move if required.

She said residents were “fed up” with traffic issues, broken and unfinished footpaths, parking issues and public transport.

“Even I, someone who doesn’t live in this ward, can see the neglect in these suburbs,” she said.

Jonty Bush, after she won Young Australian of the Year in 2009.

“I’m not afraid of a difficult conversation, I will always speak what I believe to be the truth.

“To put it simply. I am a proven candidate: I am a Young Australian of the Year, I have delivered and continue to deliver on a range of issues – the One Punch Can Kill Campaign is a stand out.

“I know how to bring people together to work for a common cause and achieve results.”

The vegan and barefoot runner says “win, lose or draw” she has a very specific task to tick off after the ballot is counted.

She will cut her hair, likely shaving it off for cancer research.

Right now, she is “locked in” to her long bob look because it is the ‘do she is sporting on her corflute election signs.

“It’s been the bane of my existence,” she joked.

“I totally understand it’s the first world issue and really not something to complain about but my hair has been my identity.

“I’ve loved to be creative and I’ve always had short hair and dyed hair and I think it does represent me.

“When this is over, win, lose, draw, I’m going to treat myself to a haircut.”

The Brisbane City Council election is on March 28.