James Bidgood - Member for Dawson

Parliament House Office

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel:

(02) 6277 4502

Fax:

(02) 6277 8513

Email:

Email James

Dawson Electorate Office

Mackay Office
Cnr Sams & Willetts Road
North Mackay Qld 4740

Tel:

(07) 4942 6011

Fax:

(07) 4942 5311

Postal Address:

PO Box 1697
North Mackay Qld 4740

Biography

James Bidgood MP (B.Sc Hons, Social Science) was elected on the 24th of November 2007. He is a Former Mackay City Councillor and previous Financial Director of Caneland Medical Centre and One Stop Medical.

James’s background in the health profession highlights his passion for the delivery of quality health care.

While an apprentice in the UK, James experienced the tough anti-union, anti-worker laws in the 1980s under the Thatcher Government. This inspired him to join the Labour Party in Britain and campaign tirelessly against the Conservatives.

James joined the ALP in February 1994, and has helped Labor candidates fight at every election since that time.

James believes in accountable government and grassroots democracy – listening to the people of Dawson and giving them a say as to how they are governed.

James has 3 children aged 6, 8 and 11.

Electorate Profile

State: Queensland

Name Derivation: Named after Andrew (Anderson) Dawson 1863-1910, Queensland's first Labor Premier 1899.

Area and Location Description: Dawson covers an area of approximately 18 052 sq km from Mackay, Bakers Creek and Walkerston in the south to Oonoonba and the Ross River in the north and also includes the Whitsunday Group and the Lindeman Group Islands. Main towns include Airlie Beach, Ayr, Bowen, Home Hill, Proserpine and Walkerston as well as the City of Mackay.

Products/Industries of the Area: Various small crops, prawn and fish farms, sugar growing and refining, beef cattle, coal mining related industries, abattoirs and tourism.

First Proclaimed/Election: 1949

Demographic Rating: Rural

Members:

• James Bidgood (ALP) 2007-
  
• KELLY, D (NP) 1996-2007
• BRAITHWAITE, R A (NP) 1975-1996
• PATTERSON, R A (ALP) 1966-1975
• SHAW, G W (CP) 1963-1966
• DAVIDSON, C W (CP) 1949-1963