Margaret Keech was first elected to Parliament in 2001.
Margaret Keech was first elected to Parliament in 2001 and is currently the Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Women in the Bligh Government.
Margaret has lived in Albert with her husband and three children since 1980. She has a strong small business, community service and education background and is a qualified teacher, has a Master of Arts, a Bachelor of Economics, and Graduate Diplomas in Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Immediately prior to entering State Parliament, Mrs Keech was a lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology.
After the 2004 State election, Margaret was elevated to the Beattie Ministry as Gold Coast regional Minister and Minister for Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development. She was previously Labor Caucus Secretary, a member of the Scrutiny of Legislation Parliamentary Committee, chair of Budget Estimates Committee A which included the portfolios of Premier and Deputy Premier and chair of the Ministerial Aquaculture Committee. Margaret retained the Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development after the 2006 election. She also became Minister for Women. In September 2007 she was promoted by Premier Anna Bligh to the Child Safety and Women portfolio.
Margaret’s electorate is one of the fast-growing areas of Australia and as such, has overseen substantial expenditure for Albert. Schools have been a big priority, with an investment of $75 million for three new state schools that opened in 2009 – Ormeau Woods State High School, Norfolk Village State School and Highland Reserve State School. Margaret has also successfully fought for the construction of a multi-million Coomera District Police Headquarters which will see an improved police presence for the Gold Coast.
Staying in touch with her constituents is one of Margaret’s main priorities. She regularly takes her mobile office on the road, visiting shopping centres and suburbs all over Albert.
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