This is the maiden speech by Phillip Thompson, the Liberal National Party member for the Queensland electorate of Herbert.
It was the first maiden speech of the 46th Parliament.
Thompson, 31, won Herbert at the May 18, 2019 federal election. The seat is based around Townsville, Hinchinbrook and Palm Island.
Thompson won 37.11% of the primary vote, an increase of 1.61%. He secured 58.36% of the two-party-preferred vote, an increase of 8.38%. He defeated the one-term ALP member Cathy O’Toole, who won the seat by 37 votes in 2016. Ahead of the election, it was the most marginal seat in the nation.
Thompson is a former infantry soldier who served and was seriously wounded in Afghanistan. He competed in the Invictus Games in London, in 2014. In 2018, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the welfare of veterans.
Watch Thompson’s speech (22m):
Listen to Thompson’s speech (18m):
Hansard transcript of maiden speech by Phillip Thompson, LNP member for Herbert.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH
Mr Thompson, for the committee elected to prepare an address-in-reply to the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General, presented the proposed address, which was read by the Clerk. The proposed address read as follows: