Cameron Caldwell

Cameron MacKenzie Caldwell is an Australian politician who is a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Fadden. He was elected in the Fadden by-election in July 2023. He is a member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland and sits with the Liberal Party in the federal parliament.

Cameron Caldwell MP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Fadden
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 July 2023
Preceded by	Stuart Robert
Councillor of the City of Gold Coast for Division 4
In office 28 March 2020 – 16 March 2024
Preceded by	Kristyn Boulton
Succeeded by	Shelley Curtis
Councillor of the City of Gold Coast for Division 3
In office 28 April 2012 – 28 March 2020
Preceded by	Grant Pforr
Succeeded by	Donna Gates
Personal details
Political party	LNP (Liberal)
Children	3
Residence	Gold Coast
Occupation	Lawyer, politician

Before his election to federal parliament, he served as a councillor on the City of Gold Coast council since 2012.^[1]

Early life

Caldwell was born in Mount Isa, Queensland. He grew up in Redcliffe and attended St Joseph's College, Nudgee, going on to Queensland University of Technology.^[2] Prior to his election to parliament, he ran a law firm in the Gold Coast suburb of Hope Island.^[3]

Political career

Caldwell was pre-selected by the Liberal National Party (LNP) to run in the seat of Broadwater at the 2012 Queensland state election. In February 2012, a month before the election, he was disendorsed after the party received a complaint from a member of the public about a trip Caldwell had made to a swinger's club.^[4] LNP leader Campbell Newman defended the party's decision to dump Caldwell.^[5]

In April later that year, Caldwell was elected as the councillor for Division 3 of the City of Gold Coast.^[6] He was re-elected in 2016, and then elected as the councillor for Division 4 in 2020.^[7][8]

During his time as councillor, in December 2012, while acting mayor of the Gold Coast, Caldwell was accused of assaulting a property developer at a charity function, allegedly grabbing him by the throat, which Caldwell denied.^[9]

2023 Fadden by-election

Main article: 2023 Fadden by-election

Following the resignation of former minister Stuart Robert from parliament, Caldwell was selected as the LNP's candidate in Fadden for the by-election, defeating four other nominees in three rounds of voting.^[10] Caldwell stated that the by-election would be a way to send a message to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on issues relating to the economy, saying that he knew he "can be the one they can support in order to deliver for our local community."^[11] He was successfully elected in the by-election on 15 July 2023.^[12]

Political positions

Caldwell opposed the Labor government's proposal of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and had backed the Liberal Party's policy to oppose the government's proposal in the referendum.^[13]

References

1. "Cr Cameron Caldwell". City of Gold Coast. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
2. Caldwell, Cameron (4 September 2023). "First Speech". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
3. Thomson, Alister (12 March 2016). "Hope Island changing with young families drawn to the suburb". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
4. "LNP candidate dumped over link to swinger's club". ABC News. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
5. Moore, Tony (24 February 2012). "LNP loses a second Broadwater candidate". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
6. "2012 Gold Coast City - Councillor Election - Division 3 - Division Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
7. "2016 Gold Coast City Council - Councillor Election - Division 3 - Division Summary". Electoral Commission Queensland. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
8. "Local Government Elections - Gold Coast City Division 4 Councillor". Electoral Commission Queensland. July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
9. "Acting coast mayor denies assault claim". 9News. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
10. Colahan, Mackenzie (3 June 2023). "Gold Coast city councillor Cameron Caldwell wins Liberal Party's preselection for Fadden in five-cornered contest". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
11. Murray, Duncan (3 June 2023). "Gold Coast councillor confirmed as LNP pick for Fadden". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
12. "Cameron Caldwell wins Fadden by-election, Jim Chalmers says anything less than 4pc swing would be embarrassing for LNP". ABC News. 16 July 2023. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
13. McElroy, Nicholas (5 July 2023). "Fadden by-election Liberal Party candidate keeping distance from former minister Stuart Robert". ABC News. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Stuart Robert	Member for Fadden 2023–present	Incumbent