Councillor Jacob Heremaia will be the LNP candidate to take on health minister Shannon Fentiman at the upcoming state election.
His nomination to contest the seat of Waterford – which includes Underwood, Slacks Creek, Meadowbrook, Loganlea, Tanah Merah, Bethania, Waterford West, and parts of Kingston, Logan Reserve, Waterford and Loganholme – was announced on Sunday alongside opposition leader David Crisafulli.
Cr Heremaia, who represents Division 8 in Logan City Council as an independent, was scathing of Ms Fentiman.
“Time’s up for Shannon Fentiman and Labor,” he said.
“Shannon Fentiman has run Queensland Health into the ground and our community are paying a high price, it cannot go on which is why I am stepping forward to run as the LNP candidate for Waterford.”
He said ambulance ramping at Logan Hospital was “staggering”.
“Our community is witnessing first-hand the alarming impacts of Shannon Fentiman’s failures and is demanding an end to Labor’s chaos and crisis,” Cr Heremaia said.
“It’s clear nothing will change unless we change the Government and by getting rid of the worst health minister in Queensland’s history, we can end Labor’s health crisis.”
Cr Heremaia was re-elected to council uncontested at the March elections this year.
He was first elected in 2020 at the age of 20 – Queensland’s youngest councillor at the time.
According to the Electoral Act 1992, he is not required to resign as councillor to run for state parliament.
He will, however, need to take leave without pay while he is a candidate.
If successful in his bid for state parliament, a by-election will be held for Division 8, which includes Heritage Park, Logan Reserve, and part of Chambers Flat, Crestmead, Park Ridge, Park Ridge South and Regents Park.
