John-Paul Langbroek
Encyclopedia
John-Paul Honoré Langbroek (born 31 January 1961 in Assen
) is an Australia
n politician. He has been a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
representing the Liberal Party
and its successor, the centre-right
Liberal National Party, in the seat of Surfers Paradise
since 2004. He was elected leader of the LNP following the 2009 state election
, but resigned as leader in March 2011 after Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman
announced he would be seeking preselection for the seat of Ashgrove
and the LNP leadership. Newman appointed Langbroek as Shadow Police Minister in his Shadow Cabinet.
, grew up as the only two children of Jehovah's Witnesses. His family emigrated from the Netherlands
to Australia in mid 1961. The family travelled around rural Queensland where Langbroek Sr worked at various schools.
, he went on to study at the University of Queensland
, receiving an honours degree in Dental Science. At university he showed no early sign of an interest in politics, describing his student days at the University of Queensland
as being "toga parties, Lacoste shirts and university japes".
He finished his degree in 1983 and departed for London where he met his wife Stacey. He won the state seat of Surfers Paradise
from one-term independent MP Lex Bell
at the 2004 state election, and served in the opposition shadow ministry for a number of years. He has held various shadow portfolios, including health, public works, mines and energy and immediately prior to his ascension to the leadership he has served as Shadow Minister for Education and Skills and Shadow Minister for the Arts from 12 August 2008.
, Peter Wellington
, introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010
into Queensland Parliament, calling for a referendum to be held at the next State election on the introduction of daylight saving for South East Queensland
only, while the remainder of the state maintains standard time
. In response, Langbroek announced that he would not support the bill, saying "We will not be supporting a referendum on daylight saving" and "I don't want to make an interstate problem an intrastate problem".
He has expressed the pain of having a relative with motor neurone disease
. Describing the disease as having "destroyed his family", causing his 58-year-old brother-in-law to need constant nursing and causing potentially fatal weight loss.
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He has been a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
representing the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
and its successor, the centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
Liberal National Party, in the seat of Surfers Paradise
Electoral district of Surfers Paradise
The district of Surfers Paradise is an electoral district of the State of Queensland in Australia.-Members for Surfers Paradise:-Election results:-External links:*...
since 2004. He was elected leader of the LNP following the 2009 state election
Queensland state election, 2009
The Queensland state election was held to elect members to the unicameral Parliament of Queensland on 21 March 2009. The election saw the incumbent Labor government led by Premier Anna Bligh defeat the Liberal National Party of Queensland led by Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, and gain a...
, but resigned as leader in March 2011 after Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman
Campbell Newman
Campbell Kevin Thomas Newman is the leader of the Liberal National Party of Queensland. He was the 15th Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 2004 to 2011....
announced he would be seeking preselection for the seat of Ashgrove
Electoral district of Ashgrove
The division of Ashgrove is a Queensland Legislative Assembly electoral division in the state of Queensland, Australia.It is located in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, encompassing Alderley, Ashgrove, Enoggera, The Gap, and Newmarket...
and the LNP leadership. Newman appointed Langbroek as Shadow Police Minister in his Shadow Cabinet.
Early life
He and his sister, Melbourne-based media personality Kate LangbroekKate Langbroek
Katherine Elizabeth Wilhelmina Beuving Langbroek is an Australian television and radio personality of Jamaican, Jewish and Dutch heritage...
, grew up as the only two children of Jehovah's Witnesses. His family emigrated from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to Australia in mid 1961. The family travelled around rural Queensland where Langbroek Sr worked at various schools.
Early career
A graduate of Sunnybank State High SchoolSunnybank State High School
Sunnybank State High School is a Queensland Government State School located in the suburb of Sunnybank, approximately 15 kilometres south of the city of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. The school has its predominant frontage on Turton Street and is also bordered by Gager and Boorman...
, he went on to study at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, receiving an honours degree in Dental Science. At university he showed no early sign of an interest in politics, describing his student days at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
as being "toga parties, Lacoste shirts and university japes".
He finished his degree in 1983 and departed for London where he met his wife Stacey. He won the state seat of Surfers Paradise
Electoral district of Surfers Paradise
The district of Surfers Paradise is an electoral district of the State of Queensland in Australia.-Members for Surfers Paradise:-Election results:-External links:*...
from one-term independent MP Lex Bell
Lex Bell
Alexander James Douglas "Lex" Bell OAM is a former Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he received a Master of Laws from Bond University and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland before becoming a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He was also on Gold Coast City...
at the 2004 state election, and served in the opposition shadow ministry for a number of years. He has held various shadow portfolios, including health, public works, mines and energy and immediately prior to his ascension to the leadership he has served as Shadow Minister for Education and Skills and Shadow Minister for the Arts from 12 August 2008.
Daylight saving
On 14 April 2010, independent member for the electoral district of NicklinElectoral district of Nicklin
The district of Nicklin is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. The electorate is centred in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and stretches north to Yandina, south to Eudlo and west to Kenilworth...
, Peter Wellington
Peter Wellington
Peter Wellington is an Independent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, for the Electoral district of Nicklin. Wellington, along with fellow independent Liz Cunningham, briefly held the balance in power following the 1998 state election...
, introduced the Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010
Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Act 2010
The Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Referendum Bill 2010 was tabled in Queensland Parliament on 14 April 2010, by Queensland, Independent Member Peter Wellington. Wellington has called for a referendum to be held at the next State election on introduction of daylight saving time for...
into Queensland Parliament, calling for a referendum to be held at the next State election on the introduction of daylight saving for South East Queensland
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
only, while the remainder of the state maintains standard time
Standard time
Standard time is the result of synchronizing clocks in different geographical locations within a time zone to the same time rather than using the local meridian as in local mean time or solar time. Historically, this helped in the process of weather forecasting and train travel. The concept...
. In response, Langbroek announced that he would not support the bill, saying "We will not be supporting a referendum on daylight saving" and "I don't want to make an interstate problem an intrastate problem".
Personal
Langbroek is married and has three children. Although he has not shown a clear rejection of his parents' religion (Jehovah's Witnesses) he does not discuss the topic at length.He has expressed the pain of having a relative with motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
. Describing the disease as having "destroyed his family", causing his 58-year-old brother-in-law to need constant nursing and causing potentially fatal weight loss.