I am honoured to be elected the Member for Thuringowa. Whilst born in New Zealand, I was primarily raised in North Queensland finishing school at Heatley Secondary College, Townsville. I proudly live in Kelso along with my wife and children.
With a passion for helping people, my first job in 1985 was at the Townsville Hospital employed as a medical orderly. In 1990 I joined the Queensland Ambulance Service and went on to become a Critical Care Flight Paramedic, which gave me the opportunity to work in various positions throughout Townsville and the surrounding district as Acting Officer in Charge of many Stations including Ayr, Hughenden Ingham, Charters Towers, Northern Beaches, Townsville, and Kirwan Ambulance Stations.
I am passionate about North Queensland and my local community. I was the President of the Combined Emergency Services Committee from 1995 to 2000 which raised significant funds to help build the Ronald McDonald House in Townsville.
First elected in 2015, and now in my third term, I have committed to delivering:
- Riverway Drive Duplication Stage 2 - $95M
- New Multi-purpose hall for Thuringowa State High School - $10M
- Upgrade to the Kirwan Health Precinct - $40M
- New Kirwan Police Precinct (including a new Police Academy) $100M
- Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Pipeline Replacement - $33M
Key achievements to date:
- Riverway Drive Duplication Stage 1 - $43M
- Hervey Range Road Upgrade - $7.4M
- Ring Road Stage 5 - $230M
- New Kirwan Ambulance Station - $5M
- Kirwan State High School Hall & Quadrangle - $12M
- Upper Ross Police Facility – $2M
- Heatley Secondary College upgrades - $12M
- Kelso Primary School Block upgrades - $650,000
- Rasmussen Primary School security fence and block upgrades - $1.4M
- Willows Primary School security fence and block upgrades - $1.5M
- Kirwan Primary School new admin block and upgrades - $4M
- Weir Primary School security fence, tuckshop and block upgrades - $2M
- Heatley Primary School security fence, footpath and block upgrades - $2.5M
- Thuringowa High School block upgrades - $1.5M
- Charles Moroney Park, Kelso upgrade - $4M
- Heatley Park upgrade - $2.8M
- Charles St, Kirwan footpaths upgrade - $1.5M
- Nathan St, Heatley footpaths and beautification - $2M
- DRIVEIT Motorsport and Driver Education Facility - $10M
As my role as Chair of the Health and Environment Committee, I am proud to have helped deliver new laws through the Queensland Parliament including:
- Voluntary Assisted Dying
- Termination of Pregnancy
- Medicinal Cannabis
- Environmental Protection Chain of Responsibility
- Mental Health Bill
- Hospital Foundations Bill
- Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
- Nature Conservation Legislation
- Public Health and Other Legislation
- Covid19 Emergency Response
- Waste Reduction and Recycling Legislation
As the local MP I have continued to fight for my electorate on the serious issue of Youth Crime and was instrumental in making change through the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023. This included a Breach of Bail offence that carries up to 12 months in custody, declaration of a repeat offender and importantly providing judiciary more power to protect the community, as they now must consider community safety as paramount when it comes to sentencing serious repeat offenders.
Early prevention remains a priority. I have advocated for and delivered funding for:
- Clontarf Academies
- Stars Foundation
- Transition to Success
- Project Booyah
- Noffs Street University
- After Hours Diversionary Programs
I will continue to advocate for my community and put Thuringowa 1st.
Aaron Harper MP
State Member for Thuringowa
