Supporting growth in the Queensland Petroleum and gas sector

Andrew was born and raised in the sugar and banana farming town of Tully. Both sides of his family have lived in North Queensland for several generations. Andrew is passionate about the people and communities of North Queensland.

After completing his secondary schooling at Tully State High School, Andrew attended the University of Queensland in Brisbane where he completed degrees in Agricultural Economics and Political Science with Honours. Andrew then worked at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba where he was Senior Resident Fellow of Concannon College and commenced his PhD studies.

During this time, Andrew was active within the then Queensland National Party, serving as the State President of the Queensland Young Nationals from May 2004 to May 2006.

Andrew was pre-selected by The Nationals as its candidate for the State Electorate of Hinchinbrook and was elected to the 52nd Queensland Parliament on the 9th September 2006. At the age of 25, Andrew was the youngest member of the Queensland Parliament between September 2006 and March 2009.

Following the formation of the new Liberal National Party (LNP), Andrew was appointed to the Opposition Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Water in September 2008. Andrew was re-elected as the LNP Member for Hinchinbrook in March 2009 and was reappointed to the Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs. In November 2010, Andrew was became the Shadow Minister for North Queensland, Reef Protection, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Economic Development and Shadow Minister for Public Works.

In April 2011, Andrew was appointed Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Queensland.

Andrew was again elected to represent the people of Hinchinbrook in March 2012. Premier Campbell Newman appointed Andrew as the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines in the new LNP Government.

Andrew is currently a member of the Australasian Study of Parliament Group, Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, the Society of St Andrew of Scotland and the Sir Samuel Griffith Society.

Andrew is active in the local community across the Hinchinbrook electorate including the Innisfail Caledonian Society, Rotary Club of Herbert River, Noorla Bowls Club, Northern Beaches Festival Committee and is Patron of the Herbert River Crushers Rugby League Football Club. Andrew strongly supports many community organisations and sporting clubs in his electorate.

Andrew’s interests include rugby league, rugby union, cricket, golf and lawn bowls and he also enjoys films, theatre and spending time with his family. Andrew is determined to provide a strong voice for the Hinchinbrook electorate in State Parliament. He believes North Queensland is a great part of the State with enormous potential.

Andrew is very proud to be a North Queenslander and considers it a privilege to represent the people of the Hinchinbrook electorate.