Local Members
Mrs De-Anne Kelly MP
Federal Member for Dawson, QLD
Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Transport and Regional Services
Biography
De-Anne was brought up on her family cattle property, was taught primary school by correspondence, went to secondary school in Rockhampton, and won a scholarship to study electrical engineering at Queensland University.
A successful career with two national companies, and then seven years running her own small manufacturing business, saw her as the Central Queensland finalist in the 1986 Business Executive of the Year award.
She has owned and operated a successful beef cattle enterprise and, in partnership with husband Roger now owns a cane farm in the Pioneer Valley near Mackay.
De-Anne was the first Nationals woman ever to be elected to the House of Representatives.
She chose, as her 1996 campaign slogan, "Putting the people of Dawson first". This has remained her credo ever since.
She was re-elected in 1998, topping the Primary Vote poll for the first time in the history of the electorate, and again in 2001, when she won on primary votes alone, again for the first time. In 2004 she was re-elected with an increased majority.
De-Anne was the first Nationals woman appointed to the Ministry - as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade.
She was the first Nationals woman MP to be appointed to the Ministry when she took on the Veterans Affairs portfolio for 12 months in 2005. Currently she is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services.
She often quotes her late father, Ian Park, who said "It's not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dog".
De-Anne has demonstrated her "fight" on many occasions, and on many issue important to her constituents.
She is the proud mother of Ian, aged 17.
Examples of the achievements for local electorate
De-Anne was successful in having the Ron Camm bridge duplication built in Mackay, and delivered SBS television coverage to her electorate two years ahead of schedule.
As Chairman of the Coalition Sugar Industry Task Force, she has fought to stop the deregulation of the sugar industry proposed by the Queensland State government, and continues to campaign for the mandating of 10% ethanol blend, as a clean green additive, to Australian petrol.
She also played a major role in the delivery of the Australian Government's $444 million sugar industry package.
De-Anne was the driving force behind the abandonment of proposals to tax family trusts, which many farmers and small-business operators use to protect their assets, as companies.
Her major focus is to provide permanent and well-paying jobs in her electorate, particularly for young people, which has seen her obtain funding for a call centre and training facility in Bowen.
She was recently successful in securing funding which will see 140 young indigenous people in secure permanent jobs.
Most recently she has secured $8 million in funding to build a Science and Technology precinct at the Mackay campus of Central Queensland University.
Electorate contact details:
Address: Cnr Sams & Willetts Roads, Mackay QLD 4740
PO Box 1697, Mackay QLD 4740
Phone: 07 4942 6011
Fax: 07 4942 5311
Email: de-anne.kelly.mp@aph.gov.au
Website: www.deannekelly.com
Campaign Office details:
Street Address: Shop 2, 21 Milton Street Mackay Q 4740
Postal Address: PO Box 1615 Mackay Q 4740
Phone: (07) 4953 5159
Fax: (07) 4957 3176
E-mail: dawsoncampaign@matilda.net.au
Website: deannekelly.com.au
Campaign Director: Roger Kelly
Direct phone: 0438 598 809
