Stephen Bates
MP
Bates in 2020
Member of the Australian Parliament for Brisbane
Assumed office
21 May 2022
Preceded byTrevor Evans
Personal details
Born
Stephen James Bates

(1992-11-23) 23 November 1992 (age 31)
Croydon, London, England
Political partyAustralian Greens
OccupationPolitician and retail worker

Stephen James Bates[1] (born 23 November 1992) is an Australian politician who is a member of the Australian Greens, and was elected as the member for the Division of Brisbane in the 2022 Australian federal election, defeating sitting Liberal member and former National Retail Association CEO Trevor Evans.[2][3]

Early life and education

Bates was born in Croydon, South London; his family moved to Australia during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, settling in the central Queensland town of Yeppoon.[4]

Bates studied at the University of Queensland, originally for a Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management. While studying, he went to the United States to pursue a work opportunity. Bates has stated that his experience in the United States is what convinced him to enter politics, specifically his encountering of a coworker crying over whether to buy insulin or pay her rent.[4]

When Bates moved back to Australia he changed his degree to a Bachelor of Social Science with a major in social and public policy, and graduated under that degree.[4] Prior to being elected, Bates was a retail employee and a member of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.[5][6]

Political career

Bates first ran for office at the 2020 Queensland state election for the seat of Stafford. Bates was then the nominee of the Australian Greens for the Division of Brisbane in the 2022 Australian federal election, defeating incumbent MP Trevor Evans.[3] Bates' campaign was noted for its use of geo-located Grindr advertisements with risqué slogans, such as promoting that "the best parliaments are hung".[7] In an interview with radio station B105 FM, Bates credited the ads as a vital component of his election victory.[8]

Electoral history

Legislative Assembly of Queensland[9]
Year Electorate Party First Preference Result Two Candidate Result
Votes % ±% Position Votes % ±% Result
2020 Stafford Greens 5,578 16.43 Decrease   1.85 Third Excluded
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House of Representatives[10]
Year Electorate Party First Preference Result Two Candidate Result
Votes % ±% Position Votes % ±% Result
2022 Brisbane Greens 29,641 27.24 Increase   4.87 Third 58,460 53.73 Increase 53.73 Elected
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Personal life

Bates is openly gay and joined the Greens on the night of the 2019 Federal election. He graduated UQ with a Bachelor of Social Science with a major in social and public policy.[11]

References

  1. ^ "QUALIFICATION CHECKLIST" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  2. ^ Agius, Kym; Briggs, Casey (28 May 2022). "Greens' Stephen Bates wins the seat of Brisbane in the federal election". ABC.
  3. ^ a b "Greens win the seat of Brisbane, ABC election analyst Antony Green says". ABC News. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "About Me". Stephen Bates: Greens for Brisbane. Australian Greens.
  5. ^ "Stephen Bates – Greens for Brisbane". Facebook.
  6. ^ Fry, Courtney (30 May 2022). "Greens MP-Elect Stephen Bates Has A Couple More Retail Shifts To Pull Before Going To Canberra". Pedestrian. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  7. ^ Shepherd, Tory (5 May 2022). "Australian Greens party Grindr election ad: a gifted strategy or just grating?". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ^ Hansford, Amelia (30 May 2022). "Newly-minted Australian Greens MP Stephen Bates has attributed his election success to a vivacious Grindr ad campaign". Pink News. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. ^ "2020 State General Election". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Brisbane, QLD - AEC Tally Room". AEC Tally Room. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. ^ Bowman, Jan (19 May 2022). "Could the LGBTQI Vote Make a Difference in Brisbane". Westender. Retrieved 28 May 2022.

External links

Parliament of Australia Preceded byTrevor Evans Member for Brisbane 2022–present Incumbent
Crossbench members of the Australian House of Representatives
Current members of the Australian House of Representatives from Queensland
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