James Pearce Turnour (born 7 April 1966) is an Australian former politician. He represented the Queensland seat of Leichhardt in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010, as a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was a public servant in Queensland's agriculture department prior to entering parliament.
Jim Turnour | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Leichhardt | |
| In office 24 November 2007 – 21 August 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Warren Entsch |
| Succeeded by | Warren Entsch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 April 1966 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Public servant |
| Website | JimTurnour.com.au |
Early life
editTurnour was born on 7 April 1966 in Darwin, Northern Territory.[1] He is the third of four children born to Joan (née Pearce) and John Turnour; his mother was a Ten Pound Pom. He grew up on his parents' mixed farming property at Coomalie Creek.[2]
Turnour boarded at Brisbane Grammar School.[2] He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland.[1] Prior to entering parliament he worked for Queensland's Department of Primary Industries for 20 years and also as an agricultural consultant. He managed Operation Farm Clear, a program assisting farmers in recovery from Cyclone Larry.[2]
Politics
editTurnour won Leichhardt at the 2007 election on a swing of 14 percent, the largest in the country.[3] It was actually his second bid for the seat; he challenged Liberal incumbent Warren Entsch in 2004 and was heavily defeated. Entsch retired in 2007. He held Leichhardt on a seemingly safe majority of 10 percent, but Turnour rode a large Labor wave to take the seat. He lost to Entsch in 2010.[4]
He currently manages a large-scale project for the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, helping farmers recover after Cyclone Larry and has worked for Senator Jan McLucas in the past.[5]
Subsequent activities
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (June 2022) |
Jim Turnour is on the committee of Northern Beaches Landcare and the Trinity Inlet Catchment Management Association. He is also a member of SPEED (Southern Parents Empowering Early Development), Cairns and District Chinese Association, Cairns Yacht Club, Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and is a guest presenter on Cairns Community Radio.
Federal Committee Service
editHouse of Representatives Standing:[6]
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 19.2.08;
- Economics from 19.2.08.
Joint Standing:[6]
- National Capital and External Territories from 18.2.08.
References
edit- ^ a b "Mr Jim Turnour MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Maiden speech". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 11 March 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ The Cairns Post
- ^ "Australian Votes 2010: Leichhardt(Key Seat)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
Warren Entsch 54.2% vs. Jim Turnour 45.8%
- ^ The Poll Bludger
- ^ a b Parliament of Australia: House of Representatives - Members