Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in shock resignation

A replacement for Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will be decided on Sunday.

Graham Quick with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

A replacement for Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will be decided on Sunday in a Liberal National Party party room meeting after the long-time councillor’s shock announcement that he would not contest next year’s election.

Cr Quirk had previously announced his plans to seek re-election but announced this morning that he would step down from the role as lord mayor on April 7.

The resignation will come exactly eight years after Cr Quirk took over from Campbell Newman who stood down to contest the seat of Ashgrove in the Queensland state election, eventually becoming a one-term premier.

Cr Quirk said his decision followed a recent realisation he could no longer commit to a further four-year term.

“There are significant demands on one’s family in these roles and upon reflection I have decided that now is the time to go,” he said.

“I’m extremely proud of what my team has achieved and confident that a vibrant and renewed LNP council team will have new and exciting plans to keep Brisbane heading in the right direction.”

Cr Quirk, who has also served as the Chairman of the Council of Mayors for South East Queensland for eight years, said he was proud of his work with other mayors in the region to promote infrastructure projects.

“As Lord Mayor, I’ve strived to make Brisbane an even better place to live and work and I hope most people agree that has occurred over the past eight years,” Cr Quirk said in a statement.

“I’ve continued to invest in infrastructure to tackle traffic congestion with projects like the Brisbane Metro to get people home quicker and safer.

“We have delivered more than $4 billion in road upgrades and improvements over the last eight years.

“I have worked to develop a real Team Brisbane approach around our city and suburbs that’s about getting business and educational institutions, the not-for-profit sector and city government working closer together to deliver improved outcomes and create more jobs for the people of Brisbane.”