About Rhys

• Like many people in Algester electorate I am a first generation migrant, who arrived in

Australia from New Zealand as a teenager in 1988, the year that the World Expo came

to Brisbane. Becoming a citizen of Australia has been the greatest blessing of my life

and I am now proud to call myself an Australian and a Queenslander. 

• I have lived in Forest Lake for most of the last 10 years, just outside the electorate but inside the old Algester electorate borders which changed in 2017. I remain heavily connected with the electorate and have campaigned to be your local member since October 2022, door knocking, participating in community organisations and events, and getting to know what you want from a local member. My policy platform, which you can access at the top of this page, heavily reflects what you have told me you want from your local MP. 

• My first job out of school was as a gunner in the Australian Army Ready Reserve, where I achieved the rank of Lance Bombardier and served for a year full time and four years part time. 

• During my part time service I put myself through a nursing degree at university, also working as a disability worker. I then worked as a registered nurse for eleven and a half years, also writing articles as a freelance health journalist. 

• I started working as an infrastructure professional in 2006 and have qualifications

in economics, finance and project management, having worked on projects

worth billions of dollars. Therefore, I am extremely well qualified to hold any

government to account for how it spends your money, to ensure that Algester

gets its fair share.

• Community memberships include the Logan Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Connect, Return & Services League (Forest Lake Sub-Branch), Sustainable Population Australia, Hillcrest Indoor Pistol Club, Parkrun, Q-Shelter, Outdoors Queensland and the Shooter's Union of Australia. 

• I became involved in politics as a volunteer lobbyist on public land access issues for ten years and currently run the Queensland State Forest User Alliance and the State Forest

Hunting for Queensland campaigns. Better outdoor recreation opportunities for Queenslanders on their public land, is an important objective for me in Parliament.  

• I am a member of Katter's Australia Party as a gesture of support to people in that party who have always steadfastly supported the outdoor rights of Queenslanders, who I admire and with whom I share many views. The Katter's are a regional party though so as an urban candidate I am best placed as an independent. If I was elected as a representative, the interests of the people of Algester would always come first.  

• My favourite pastimes include hunting pest and game animals, game meat cooking, target

shooting, amateur sports writing, rugby union, martial arts, swimming, reading

and spending time with my family.