Neil Symes

Neil Aaron Symes (born 11 December 1988) is an Australian politician who was the member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Lytton from 2012 to 2015.^[1] He was the youngest member of the Queensland Parliament during his term.

Symes was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School^[2] and Griffith University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology and human services, majoring in child protection and family studies. He has worked at the Acacia Ridge and Districts Community Centre in Brisbane's South-West working as a community engagement officer with the Indigenous and African migrant communities. He also had a pivotal role in organising the multicultural festival, Party on in the Park, in 2009.^[3] Before running for Parliament, he was a deli worker at Woolworths.^[4]

Political career

At 23 years of age, Neil Symes was the youngest candidate for the Liberal National Party at the 2012 Queensland State election.^[1]

He was elected with 51.1% of the two-party-preferred vote, converting a safe Labor seat with a 12.2-point margin, into a marginal seat with a 1.64-point buffer. The seat had been in Labor hands without interruption for 40 years.^[1]

In March 2013, Symes created a furore by taking to Facebook to vent his frustrations over a rally that took place in November 2012, which saw the member for Lytton allegedly being threatened by protesters. In an article posted in The Courier-Mail, Symes warned he would "get his mates on to you" if any such threats took place again.^[5]

Symes was defeated by Joan Pease in the 2015 Queensland state election on a swing of over 11 percent, enough to revert Lytton to its traditional status as a safe Labor seat.

Following the 2015 election, Symes resigned from the LNP, and on 3 October 2016 announced via his Instagram account that he had joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.^[6] He unsuccessfully contested the seat of Mansfield for One Nation at the 2017 state election.^[7]

References