Bernie Ripoll

The Honourable Bernie Ripoll MP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Oxley
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 October 1998
Personal details
Born	6 January 1966 Pézenas, France
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Children	1 son; 2 daughters
Alma mater	Queensland University of Technology
Occupation	Politician, Electrician, Union Organiser
Website	Bernie Ripoll website

Bernard (Bernie) Fernand Ripoll was born on the 6th January 1966 in Pezenas, Herault, France and emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of 6. Bernie was educated at the Queensland University of Technology and is a qualified electrician. Bernie worked as an aircraft electrician with the Royal Australian Air Force. Bernie also worked as an organiser with the State Public Services Federation of Queensland (now known as the Queensland Public Sector Union) before entering politics.

Bernie was elected as the Labor member to the House of Representatives representing the Division of Oxley, Queensland in 1998.

The seat had been held by Pauline Hanson, who formed One Nation after winning the normally safe Labor seat of Oxley in 1996 as an independent. Prior to the election, Oxley was divided in half, with most of the old Oxley's more rural territory shifted to the new Division of Blair. The reconfigured Oxley had a notional Labor majority of 51 percent.

Hanson decided to contest the latter division instead of Oxley as she believed this would improve her chances. Former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss had already been preselected as Labor candidate, but a brain tumour forced him to retire from politics, and Ripoll was named in his place.^[3]

Bernie was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer in March 2012 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Small Business in March 2013. Following the election of the Coalition in September 2013, Bernie was appointed as Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Small Business and Shadow Minister for Sport. In April 2015 he announced he was not re-contesting the election for the seat of Oxley and on the 15 September 2015, resigned from the Shadow Cabinet^[1]

Commonwealth Parliamentary Service

Elected to the House of Representatives (Oxley) in Queensland

1998 – 2001 – 2004 – 2007 - 2010 - 2013 to 2016

Major Achievements

• Lead a ten-year plus campaign to upgrade the Ipswich Mototway and achieve funding of more than $2.4 billion.
• Helped deliver funding of more than $48 million for the University of Southern Queensland expansion at Springfield Central. He also helped deliver funding of $22.8 million for the Oncology Unit and assist in the development of the Mater Prublic Private Hospital at Springfield Central.
• Lead the inquiry into the collapse of Storm Financial leading to the Future of Financial Advice reforms.
• Worked with charity, service oranisations and invidividuals to build a better community.

Parliamentary Positions

Bernie was a Member of the Speaker's Panel (27 Feb 12 - 13 Mar 12) and was appointed as the Alternative Delegate for Australia to Asian Development Bank ( Mar 12 – Sept 13).

Committee Service

• Chair - Joint Com. Corporations and Financial Services (18 Feb 08 – 14 Mar 12)
• Deputy Chair - House Tax and Revenue Committee (November 2015 to Present)
• Member - H of R Standing Com. Transport and Regional Services (2 Dec 04 – 17 Oct 07)
• Member - Joint Statutory Com. Public Works (8 Dec 98 – 17 Oct 07 & 25 Oct 10 – 14 Mar 12)
• Member - Joint Standing Committee Migration (8 Dec 98 – 31 Aug 04)
• Member - Treaties Committee (2 Dec 04 - 17 Oct 07)
• Member - Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (18 Feb 08 – 19 Jul 10)
• Member - Joint Select Committee Cyber-Safety (18 Mar 10 – 19 Jul 10)
• Member - Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation Com. (14 Sept 11 – 7 Oct 11)

Parliamentary Delegations

• Leader - Official Government visits to the Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tuvalu and Samoa, (Dec 2011)
• Deputy Leader - Parliamentary Delegation Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Hawaii, (Jan 2002)
• Member - Parliamentary Delegation to India and Bangladesh, (Nov 2000)
• Member - Parliamentary Delegation to China, (Jan 2004)
• Member - Parliamentary Delegation to Malta and Spain, (April 2007)

Qualifications & Occupation Before Entering Federal Parliament

• Parliamentary Leadership Program Trinity College University of Melbourne (2015)
• BBus (Mkt) Queensland University of Technology (1990 – 1994)
• Co-founder of Stonefish Promotions Pty Ltd (Marketing and PR Co.)
• Electricial Fitter and Mechanic 1986-90
• State Public Services Federation of Queensland 1995-98

Military Service

• Apprentice Aircraft Electrician, RAAF 1983-84

Community Engagement

• Founder and Organiser of the Brisbane 2 Ipswich Charity Bike Ride (2000 – 2014)
• Founder and Organiser of the Springfield Riders Group (2007 – 2015)
• Founder and Chairman of the Western Corridor Community Fund (2009 – 2015)
• Participant in the ADF Parliamentary Program (2001 – 2011)
• Student Guild Executive Council Member QUT (1991 – 1994)

Board Memberships

• Superannuation Industry Awards Selection Committee 2015–Present
• Connexus Financial Professional Planner Advisory Board 2012–Present
• Inala Primary Care Medical Practice Board Member 2006 – Present

Interest

Cycling and Running ◘ Conversation and Debate ◘ Food and Wine ◘ Innovation and Commerce ◘ Community and People ◘ China ◘ Israel ◘ France ◘ Adventure

External links

• Bernie Ripoll, House of Representatives Biography

• Search or browse Hansard for Bernie Ripoll at OpenAustralia.org