Dr Barbara O'Shea | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for South Brisbane | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Amy MacMahon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 March 1963 [1] |
| Nationality | Australian Irish |
| Party | Labor |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Profession | Physician |
Barbara O'Shea (born 13 March 1963) is an Irish-Australian politician and doctor. She was elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for South Brisbane representing the Labor party in the 2024 Queensland state election. [2]
Prior to entering politics,O'Shea practiced as a doctor specialising in emergency medicine and mental health at the PA Hospital in Woolloongabba in addition to working with current &recovering heroin addicts across Brisbane's southside and further advocated &pursued continued and expanded access to harm-reduction services. [3] O'Shea and her husband also own and operate a small business.
O'Shea grew up in public housing during her formative years,which she credits with allowing her to achieve a good education through the life-stability provided. [3]
After being preselected as the Labor candidate for South Brisbane,O'Shea received the endorsement of EMILY's List Australia,an organisation which supports Labor women. [4]
At the 2024 election,O'Shea won the seat of South Brisbane from incumbent Greens member,Amy MacMahon. O'Shea finished second on the primary vote,however after the distribution of preferences,she defeated MacMahon. This followed a decision by the Liberals to preference Labor ahead of the Greens in South Brisbane. [5]
O'Shea is a mother of three children. O'Shea and her husband currently reside in the suburb of South Brisbane. [3] The two met decades earlier living as housemates in West End. [6]