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The former member of Parliament for the Far North Queensland seat of Cook, Billy Gordon, has died at the age of 49.
Current members of the Queensland Parliament confirmed Mr Gordon died on Friday night, and paid tribute to his work as an MP and reformer.
The cause of death is not known, but it’s understood Mr Gordon was being treated for kidney disease.
He spent time in hospital in 2016 after he had a mild heart attack.
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Mr Gordon entered politics as the Labor candidate for the Federal seat of Leichhardt in the 2013 election.
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He lost to Liberal incumbent, Warren Entsch, but his candidacy raised his profile and led to his successful 2015 bid for the State seat of Cook, which covers Cape York and the Torres Strait.
But Mr Gordon was expelled from the Labor Party just two months in to his term, when it was reported that he had failed to disclose his criminal history to the party prior to being endorsed as a candidate.
The expulsion came before he could make his maiden speech in Parliament, which Mr Gordon delivered as an independent MP on May 21, 2015.
Mr Gordon said it had been a most remarkable 17 weeks as a parliamentarian.
“I have been in politics long enough to know that the gibes, attacks, and name-calling are often part of the theatrics of this place and no malice meant.
“But there have been claims and judgements cast that have painted a picture of a person that I am not.
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“I have no doubt that my life has been vastly different from most of my colleagues here in this place.
“Indeed, I am most certainly an improbable politician.”
Mr Gordon sat as an independent for the rest of that term but continued to support the Labor government.
He retired from politics in 2017.
Before politics, Mr Gordon had cut sugar cane, worked in Normanton’s Purple Pub, and did military service with the 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment.
He’d also been a builder’s labourer, youth social worker, a cleaner, and a public servant.
A spokesman for Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Premier offered her condolences to Mr Gordon’s family.
On Twitter, Transport Minister, Mark Bailey, said Mr Gordon’s death came “at an all too young age”.
“While controversial & imperfect, Billy’s presence in the 2015-17 Parliament was significant and he voted to reform many things. A real character with sharp, quick wit.”
Mr Gordon was a Barbarrum man from the western tablelands of Far North Queensland.
Main points
- Former Cook MP Billy Gordon has died
- He held the seat for three years from 2015
- Mr Gordon was 49
