Kerry Shine - State Member for Toowoomba North

Nurturing a keen interest in politics since he was a teenager, Toowoomba born Kerry was elected as the Member for Toowoomba North in February 2001.

Kerry was appointed Queensland's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland on 1 November 2006.

His other portfolio responsibilities have included Minister for Natural Resources and Water (13 September to 1 November 2006) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors and Premier's Adviser on Western Queensland (28 July 2005 to 13 September 2006).

Prior to entering Parliament, he was a solicitor who lived and worked in Toowoomba North for more than 25 years. During that time he helped establish one of Queensland’s largest law firms, before relinquishing his interests in 1998.

Kerry holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1972.

Away from politics and law, Kerry has been involved with numerous Toowoomba organisations including the Darling Downs Rugby Union, Toowoomba City Council Empire Theatre Committee, the Toowoomba Turf Club and his long term presidency of the Toowoomba Cricket Association. During his time as president, the Association established Heritage Oval as a world-class venue, hosting international matches featuring England and the West Indies.

He has been an honorary solicitor to numerous Toowoomba sporting and community groups, including currently his honorary office with the Queensland Country Cricket Association.

Kerry was born in Toowoomba, reared on a farm at Wivenhoe Pocket, via Lowood, and received his secondary education in Brisbane, and has three adult children.

About the electorate of Toowoomba North

While Toowoomba North is largely residential, industries include research and development, especially with the State Department of Primary industries and Department of Natural Resources and Mines, manufacturing, processing pig meat, and railway maintenance. A major State Government investment has also helped Toowoomba secure the research and production of the revolutionary new engineering material, fibre composites.

The electorate includes the suburbs of North Toowoomba, East Toowoomba, Mt Lofty, Harlaxton, Prince Henry Heights, Mt Kynoch and part of the central business district. The last redistribution has brought Highfields into the electorate, which is one of the fastest growing residential areas in Queensland and currently represents half of the population of the Crows Nest Shire.