New MP’s vow to Petrie electorate

New Federal Member for Petrie Emma Comer has vowed to earn the faith and trust the community has placed in her every day, with a focus on health, education, the environment and the issues that matter to locals.

Ms Comer defeated incumbent Luke Howarth (LNP), who had represented Petrie for 12 years, at the Federal Election on May 3.

Her win surprised many experts who were instead focused on the battle for the neighbouring seat of Dickson – Peter Dutton’s former seat, won by Labor’s Ali France.

“I could feel the groundswell (of support). I didn’t expect the win, but I wasn’t surprised by it. It was my first time being a candidate and I wondered (at the time) is this just the candidate-effect?,” she recalls.

Ms Comer says she wondered if she was ‘seeing the outcomes I want to see’.

“(But) some of my volunteers at street stalls said they hadn’t seen this kind of support since 2007,” she says.

The Kippa-Ring resident says the decision to enter politics came when she was overseas and saw coverage of catastrophic bushfires burning across Australia in late 2019.

Unhappy with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s handling of the crisis, she knew she needed to “get involved”.

When she came home, she started a university course in Environmental Management.

“I did one course in my minor which was Global Environmental Security and Policy and decided four courses isn’t enough … I want a whole other degree, so I started doing two degrees at the same time,” Ms Comer recalls.

She then started working at the Nicklin state electorate office, before moving to work for former State Member for Redcliffe Yvette DÁth.

“That was just an amazing learning experience and because she had quite extensive portfolios the weight of the responsibility for the electorate matters was quite large. Yvette saw my strength in working with community and my genuine desire to help them,” Ms Comer says.

She then went on to work in Senator Anthony Chisholm’s office before he and Ms DÁth urged her to nominate for preselection and to run for Petrie.

“I think I’ve always been inclined to go into politics. I was raised by a single mum who was working multiple jobs while studying at uni. I developed a lot of my values through that (experience),” Ms Comer says.

“I learnt mostly that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.”

Driven to serve

Her desire to make a difference in her community also stems from a military career cut short by a back injury during officer training.

“Most people, if they join the military and served, they always try to find a way to try to continue serving. I’m one of those and have been looking at other ways,” she says.

So, what does a successful first term look like to her?

“I’m not coming in with any preconceived ideas and expectations. I think each day is going to be different, but I want to work with the community and for the community … not dictate to the community,” Ms Comer says.

She says health was the dominant issue raised with her during the election campaign.

“The availability of GPs and the availability of bulk-billing GPs. We all know that frontline, early intervention access to health is what prevents a lot of illness and disease,” Ms Comer explains.

“We are revitalising bulk billing, so that was a message that was cutting through (during the campaign).

“A lot of young people … (raised) issues with buying homes and outstanding HECS debts. As a renter with a HECS debt, I can understand firsthand that experience and that fear of it not being addressed.

“I think a lot of people can relate to me and my story.”

Her first priority will be to open a new Medicare Mental Health Clinic in the electorate, but also to meet as many constituents as possible.

“People should have that opportunity to talk to the local member, so I want to make myself available,” she says.

“I can come in with one million and one ideas, but unless I’m actually talking to community and to community groups and hearing what’s happening, it doesn’t really matter.

“There’s an overused quote: ‘You’ve got to be the change you want to see’ and I know I can do a great job. If you think that, you need to give it a go or simmer down. So, here’s me … giving it a go.

“I’m absolutely honoured and touched that the people of Petrie have put their faith and trust in me. I’m going to earn it every day.”