Local Members

Luke Hartsuyker MP

Shadow Minister for Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs
Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House
Federal Member for Cowper

Biography

Luke Hartsuyker was elected the Member for Cowper at the 2001 Federal election.

Following the 2007 Federal election, Luke was appointed Shadow Minister for Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs and Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives.  He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations, the Opposition Policy Committee on Economics and the Opposition Policy Committee on Industry and Education.  

He has spoken in the House on terrorism, workplace relations, the Pacific Highway, aged care, the needs of regional Australia and the abuse of parliamentary privilege, among other topics. 

One of the biggest local issues Luke has tackled since being elected is transport. He has been a strong campaigner for progress on the Pacific Highway with the result that a multi-million dollar scheme is now scheduled for Bonville, a black-spot in need of upgrading.  Luke was also involved in the negotiations that led to the agreement between the Federal and State governments and Coffs Harbour City Council to fund the Hogbin Drive extension to take traffic out of the city centre.  

Luke has pressed hard for better services and care for the large proportion of elderly residents in his electorate, resulting in an extra $10m a year in Federal support for aged care places that has taken the annual total to $50m.  He also helped secure more nurse training places at Southern Cross University.

Born and educated in Muswellbrook, Luke gained a Bachelor of Commerce at Newcastle University.  Following his graduation, he pursued a professional career in real estate and institutional property investment and development.  He is a member of CPA Australia.

Luke was awarded a Mayoral Commendation for rescues performed during the 1996 Coffs Harbour floods.  An active community member, he is a patron of many local organisations, including the Maclean Show Society, Coffs Harbour Senior Citizens Club and Swimming Mid North Coast.

Luke is married to Irene and they have two sons, Ben and Paul.   He is a keen surfer and motorcyclist and competes each year in the Coffs Coast Ocean Swim. In 2006 he took part in the Rottnest Channel Swim, a long-distance ocean event in Western Australia.

Luke Hartsuyker’s achievements for his electorate include:

• Increased road funding
• Additional aged care places across the electorate and an aged care facility at South West Rocks.
• Funding for specialist medical facility at Nambucca Heads
• Additional places at Southern Cross University.
• $21m for infrastructure upgrades to local schools over the last three years.