February 10, 2022

LNP Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd delivered his last speech to Federal Parliament on Thursday morning.

Mr O’Dowd, who has announced he will not be recontesting the seat, spoke about how he became a politician, his work on committees and his hope for a peaceful solution to the Israel / Palestine question.

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southburnett.com.au has reproduced Mr O’Dowd’s speech here in full:

In the Autumn of 2010, I never gave it a thought of  “being a politician”. Yet by the Spring of 2010, I was one!

The pre-selected candidate for Flynn had withdrawn his nomination and our Branch was left to find a new candidate, quick time.

No one came forward and that left me “holding the ball when the music stopped”.

Flynn is a fairly large electorate – 133,000sq km – twice the size of Tasmania.

I knew approximately 50 per cent of the electorate, having run my own businesses for 30 years – consisting of fuel, hotel and hardware in Central Queensland.

The other half, I had to get a grip of fairly quickly.

The election came and went in a blur and suddenly I was the new Member for Flynn. Where to now?

Barnaby Joyce, Ron Boswell and Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells had all been on my doorstep offering good helpful advice.

Senator Connie – after three days on the road – told me that I had her “baffled” as she did not know what “faction” I belonged to.

I responded that I didn’t think the LNP had factions. How wrong was I!

The First Term, 2010-13, was spent in Opposition, and the Class of 2010 were already making their presence felt in Opposition.

Harry Jenkins was the Speaker and unlike some of my colleagues – and just to name a few, Michael McCormack, George Christensen, Ewen Jones – I never got evicted from the Chamber.

Long-time Nationals, the late Paul Neville and Bruce Scott, were much more refined and were never asked to leave the Chamber prematurely.

Even our Nationals Leader, Warren Truss – a true statesman – was sent out, much to our surprise. Harry wasn’t in the chair on that occasion.

Christmas Day 2010

It began to rain and did not stop until a lot of damage was done along all river flats throughout Flynn.

“One in 100-year flood”, they said. Emerald, Theodore, Bundaberg, Gayndah, Rockhampton – were all flooded

Road and property damage was extensive.

A similar weather event returned in 2013. With the same results.

At the time Julia Gillard was PM and Anna Bligh Premier for Queensland. Both came to Flynn. And we were all grateful for the financial assistance offered to those who were affected – in yet another 1-in-100 year flood.

John Cobb – the Member for Calare,  the then Shadow Minister for Agriculture – quipped he has spent more time in Flynn between 2010-13 than in his own electorate.

These flood events were a sharp learning curve for me.

It was great to see the three levels of government working together to restore things back to normal ASAP

Committee Work

I thoroughly enjoyed working on the many and varied committees over my four terms. As Chair, Trade and Investment and Petitions; Defence, Treaties, Agriculture.

Not only did I get a much better understanding and knowledge of the portfolios but to get to know and appreciate other Members on the other side.

The Member for Richmond and Deputy Chair Ms Justine Elliot is a pleasure to work with – as is the Secretariat.

Overseas Destinations

Each country that I visited has its own issues, their own way of handling their chosen style of government.

After two trips to Palestine and Israel, I am hopeful a solution can be found – very soon! As peace between the two nations is paramount to the whole region.

I will leave it to my friends – Mark Coulton, Maria Vamvakinou and Anne Aly and others – to continue the fight for justice. To bring back human rights and peace to the “troubled land”.

Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine based here in Canberra, (is) a very sincere person and a true gentleman.

You all have my continued support.

Senator Pat Dodson, the (late) Senator Alex Gallacher, former Member for Macarthur Russell Mattheson, Chris Hayes (Member for Fowler) proved to be great team members on some of these delegations.

We formed a common bond between us. Good friends.

Thank you

Along the way there have been many people who helped me. 

Too many to mention now, but it would be remiss of me not to mention a few:

John and Sue Engwicht, Mike Burns, Ross Drayton, Cameron and Joan Millar, Sonia Burton, Graeme and Lyn Johnston, Neil and Margaret Dunbar, Don Williams, Ian and Norma Rolfe, Eddie and Mary Vella, Col and Catherine Dunne, Peter Craig, Darryl Kelly, Ron Norman, Frank Fraser, Graham and Lyn McVean, Craig Butler, Don Holt, Tony Goodwin, Hec Kilah, Oz Blacker, the late Greg McCann, Kathy Duff, Margi Morris, Barbara Hockey, Gil and Michelle Smith, the late Percy Iszlaub, Wally Knight, Mark Postle, Bob McCosker, Bob Pailthorpe, Graham Hartley, Glen Bryce, Don and Carmel Waugh, Ken and Val McInnes, Gleniss Shepherdson, Jeff and Bronwyn Schultz.

To the Class of 2010: It has been an absolute pleasure to know you all.

I wish you well for the future. As I do for those who are departing “parliamentary life”, George Christensen and John Alexander.

To “the Ministers” of the Class of 2010 – Josh Frydenberg, Karen Andrews, Ken Wyatt, Dan Tehan, Alan Tudge – I know you will continue to serve your country well.

Canberra Parliamentary staff, clerks, secretariats, com car drivers and transport officers,  Serjeant-at-Arms, mail delivery and maintenance teams , Hansard reporters and attendants – thank you for your hospitality, service and dedication to the job. Each of you give your best to make it as easy as possible during our weeks spent in Parliament.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, and former Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard, Warren Truss and Michael McCormack … all have made outstanding contribution to make “Australia a better place”.

Well done! (I) would not have your jobs under any circumstance!

Achievements

So as my Parliamentary journey comes to an end I look back over what I have achieved for Flynn. To name a few:

Rookwood Weir, water projects North and South Burnett, Gracemere-Yeppen four-lane highway, Philip Street bypass, lights (at the) Dawson Road and Philip Street intersection, funding Springsure-Tambo Road sealing, John Peterson Bridge Mundubbera, men’s sheds, wooden bridge replacements, mobile towers (30 plus) NBN Network, upgrade to Bruce Highway Gin Gin to Rockhampton, six passing lanes Capricorn Highway, flood damage recovery, stronger community funding to all corners of Flynn, swimming pool at Blackwater, Mt Morgan Range rebuilt, Skill Training Centre at Gladstone State High School, new Trades Training Centre and Manufacturing Hub at Gladstone CQ University, Southern Oil Refinery Bio Fuels Laboratory Development, Headspace Gladstone and Emerald, Emerald hospital upgrades, Emerald health precinct.

Staff

To my staff  in Gladstone and Emerald …

Sue and Lane have been with me from the start. Rachel, Natasha and Jenny have all been long-term staff.

Mitch thank you for stepping in at short notice.

Thank you all for your dedication and service. I wish you each of you all the best for the future.

Family

Whilst in Parliament I have lost my mother Coral, my brother Bob, sister Maureen and brother-in-law George.

Thanks to my children Ben and Amber and grandchildren for their support.

To my partner, Shirley, thank you for being with me on this very special journey and keeping the home fires burning whilst I was on the road.

Sisters Bernice and Lorraine and sister-in-law Joyce and brother-in-law John. I am so blessed to have my loving family who have always supported, encouraged and given feedback to me throughout the four terms.

Constituents

To my Flynn constituents …

Thank you for making Flynn the “economic powerhouse” that it is to Queensland and Australia.

Be it the coal miners and heavy industry workers, farmers, health workers and small business owners – keep up the hard work, forward-thinking and determination.

You have the right to be well-represented in Parliament and I sincerely thank you for your vote of confidence in me.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.