Mount Isa resident Danielle Slade will represent the ALP at the next state election for the newly minted seat of Traeger.
The seat replaces most of the abolished seats of Mount Isa and Dalrymple and it is likely Ms Slade will come up against KAP state leader and current member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter.
Ms Slade is married to Mount Isa-born Jason Ranie and they have two children.
She said she was a newcomer to politics but saw that as an advantage.
“I’m not looking for a job, I’m looking for a future,” Ms Slade said.
“There are two big reasons I’ve put my hand up and they are my sons Harry and Rafferty; for the first time I cannot see a future here for my family and myself and I don’t think it has to be that way.”
Ms Slade said she had a vested interest in this region doing well because she remembered the good times and wanted to continue to call it home.
“I’m not going to be a politician but I am a roll your sleeves up and get things done kind of person,” she said,
“I never back down from a challenge, I’m analytical, I like taking on responsibility and I don’t mind taking on a leadership role and it’s that kind of determination I’d like to bring to the role.”
Ms Slade said she was really impressed with Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“I think she has looked after regional Queensland and in particular our region as shown in the budget her government put forward,” she said.
“I think Labor will get in again and I’m mindful of how much royalties leave the region and I’m going to go after every dollar I can and get more services, more facilities and more opportunities for this region.”
Ms Slade wouldn’t be drawn into criticism of Robbie Katter deflecting the question of whether he was doing a good job.
“I just think I have a vested interest,” she said,
“What’s happening at the moment is that I’m saying goodbye to a lot of friends who were Mount Isa residents and it’s really sad, I don’t think it has to be this way.”
Ms Slade was born in England and emigrated to Mount Isa with her family when she was seven years old.
“I grew up in Mount Isa but I left and finishing school in a few different towns and we moved back here,” she said.
“I did a business maintenance course at the TAFE in Mount Isa and then I got a job at Mount Isa Mines where I worked for 25 years.
“That’s one of things I want to do is bring apprenticeships back into this region.”
Ms Slade said MIM was a world class mine and she learned a lot in her time there.
“Since I had children I gave up work but I’m now on the committee for the Irish Club, I volunteer for the Multicultural Festival and I’m very much into football – I play it, I’m involved in the committee and also squash and volleyball in town.”
Ms Slade said her run for office was unconnected to her recent battle with Mount Isa City Council for rate relief on the squash courts.
“As a ratepayer there is nothing wrong with questioning decisions councils make but this has nothing to do with that,” she said.