Wyatt Roy
| Wyatt Roy MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Longman | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 21 August 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Jon Sullivan |
| Majority | 7.7% |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 May 1990 Buderim, Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal National Party of Queensland |
| Website | http://www.wyattroy.com.au/ |
Wyatt Beau Roy (born 22 May 1990) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) member of the Australian House of Representatives since August 2010, representing the electorate of Longman. At 20 years of age, he was the youngest person ever to be elected to an Australian parliament. The federal record was previously held by Edwin Corboy, who was 22 when elected in 1918.
Prior to the election, there was speculation that the Liberal National Party did not want Roy endorsed as the candidate for Longman, because of his youth. However, both Liberal leader Tony Abbott and Nationals leader Warren Truss publicly endorsed Roy.[1][2]
Roy's campaign was not without incident. His electoral success may have been helped by a gaffe made by his Labor opponent and incumbent member, Jon Sullivan. In the closing week of the 2010 federal election campaign, Sullivan gained national media attention due to a blunder where he criticised the father of a seven-year-old child with a disability for waiting two years on a Queensland Health waiting list, responding to a question at a candidates' forum with a counter-question.[3] Sullivan apologised to the father at the first available opportunity[4] and dismissed the significance of the gaffe, in the days following his defeat.[5] A week earlier, one of Roy's campaign volunteers was involved in an incident, captured on video. The footage shows a member of Roy's campaign team hitting a Labor supporter in the face while campaigning. The LNP claimed the attack was provoked and brought about by the Labor campaign worker holding a giant L-plate sign next to a poster of Roy.[6]
See also
- Baby of the House, an unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house
- James Dickson, Britain's youngest member of parliament since the Great Reform Act of 1832
- Pierre-Luc Dusseault, the youngest ever Canadian member of parliament
- Alengot Oromait, Africa's youngest ever member of parliament
References
- ↑ Nancarrow, Dan (2010-06-15). "Abbott backs political tyro Wyatt Roy". Brisbane Times (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- ↑ Singer, Melissa; Mitchell, Alex (2010-08-22). "About a Roy: Wyatt set to be youngest ever MP". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ↑ Dickinson, Alex (2010-08-20). "MP Jon Sullivan jeered after 'cruel' words to father of disabled child". The Courier-Mail (News Limited). Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ↑ Marshall, Candice (2010-08-20). "Longman MP apologises for disabilities remark". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ↑ Roberts, Glenn (2010-08-24). "Sullivan denies gaffe was to blame". Caboolture Shire Herald (News Limited). Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ↑ Tatnell, Paul (2010-08-16). "Wyatt's gunning to be youngest MP at 20 ... but saves the marginal punch lines". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-08-26.
External links
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jon Sullivan |
Member for Longman 2010–present |
Incumbent |
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