Jimmy Sullivan, Queensland state MP, dies at 44 | Queensland politics


A Queensland state politician has been found dead at his home.

Jimmy Sullivan, 44, was the independent MP for the Queensland electorate of Stafford in Brisbane’s north.

Police were called to Sullivan’s Stafford home unit about 10.15pm on Thursday where they found his body.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, released a statement on Friday morning offering his condolences to Sullivan’s family for his “sudden passing”.

“On behalf of all Queenslanders, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time,” he said.

Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email

Sullivan was elected to parliament as a Labor MP in 2020 and served as assistant minister for justice and veterans affairs under the former premier, Steven Miles.

He was the son of former Labor MP Terry Sullivan, who also served the Stafford electorate from 2001 to 2006.

Before entering parliament he was a long-serving chief of staff to former attorney general Yvette D’Ath.

He was re-elected in the 2024 state election, surviving a 5.5% swing against him as the Miles government was defeated by the David Crisafulli-led Liberal National Party.

He fell out with Labor soon afterwards, with police called to an alleged domestic incident at his home the day after the election.

No charges were ever laid.

Jimmy Sullivan (centre) during question time at Queensland parliament in September 2024. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

He was placed on leave to attend to medical and legal issues, before being disendorsed by Labor in May 2025, forcing him to the crossbench.

Speaking as an independent in parliament for the first time, Sullivan broke down, telling MPs he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the death of his first daughter.

“I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare,” he told parliament.

Miles, then opposition leader, accused Sullivan of failing to adhere to a “safe return-to-work plan”.

On his parliamentary web page, Sullivan described himself as “a local through and through” who had grown up and gone to school in the electorate.

Before politics, he was a lawyer and former judge’s associate in the district court of Queensland.

He worked across government and law reform in Canberra, Brisbane and Washington DC, working in the office of Democratic senator Ron Wyden.

In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline is 1800 55 1800. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org



Source link

  • Related Posts

    South African Writer Mfundi Vundla Gets Personal in His New Play

    Mfundi Vundla spent 21 years in exile and created the popular television show “Generations.” His latest project is a play that explores the imperfections of the fight against apartheid. Source…

    UK PM Keir Starmer visits Gulf to shore up ‘fragile’ US-Iran ceasefire | US-Israel war on Iran

    NewsFeed As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Doha as part of a Gulf tour spanning Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar, he discussed efforts to secure the…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Reform UK voters least likely to see social media posts from family and friends, study finds | Social media

    Reform UK voters least likely to see social media posts from family and friends, study finds | Social media

    Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for April 10

    Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for April 10

    IPL 2026 – KKR vs LSG – Mukul Choudhary brings out the helicopter, and soars into the limelight

    IPL 2026 – KKR vs LSG – Mukul Choudhary brings out the helicopter, and soars into the limelight

    The ill-advised business software that helped sink videogame pioneers Infocom now runs on modern PCs: ‘It’s a new age for aficionados of failed 1985 database products!’

    The ill-advised business software that helped sink videogame pioneers Infocom now runs on modern PCs: ‘It’s a new age for aficionados of failed 1985 database products!’

    South African Writer Mfundi Vundla Gets Personal in His New Play

    Strikes in Middle East threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire

    Strikes in Middle East threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire