Queensland is grieving. On the night of Thursday, April 10, 2026, Jimmy Sullivan — the independent Member of Parliament for Stafford — was found dead at his unit in Brisbane’s north. He was 44 years old. Police confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the coroner. The news sent shockwaves through Queensland’s political community, with tributes arriving from across party lines within hours.
For the people of Stafford, it’s a deeply personal loss. Jimmy Sullivan wasn’t just their MP. He was one of them — born there, schooled there, and dedicated to that community for his entire adult life.
Who Was Jimmy Sullivan?
Born and Raised in Stafford
Jimmy Sullivan didn’t represent Stafford from a distance. He grew up there. On his own Queensland Parliament webpage, he described himself as “a local through and through” — and that wasn’t just a slogan. He attended school in the same electorate he would one day represent, and he stayed connected to those streets even as his career took him around the world and back.
That kind of rootedness is rare in politics. It’s the sort of thing voters notice. And for many in Brisbane’s north, it made Jimmy feel like one of the community rather than just another politician.
Education at Padua College and a Career in Law
Sullivan attended Padua College in Kedron, a well-regarded Catholic school in north Brisbane. After school, he pursued a career in law — no small feat — working as a judge’s associate in the District Court of Queensland. That experience gave him a deep understanding of the legal system from the inside, which would later shape his parliamentary focus.
He didn’t stop there. Sullivan went on to work in law reform and government roles across Canberra, Brisbane, and even Washington DC, where he spent time in the office of Democratic Senator Ron Wyden. It’s a remarkable career path for a kid from Stafford, and it gave him a perspective on policy that few MPs in Queensland could match.
A Political Career Rooted in Community
Following in His Father’s Footsteps
Politics was in the family. Jimmy Sullivan’s father, Terry Sullivan, served as a Labor MP in Queensland from 1991, initially representing the electorate of Nundah before later serving Stafford from 2001 to 2006. Terry Sullivan also served two terms as government whip and was active through the Queensland Teachers’ Union before entering parliament.
When Jimmy Sullivan entered politics himself, it wasn’t a surprise to those who knew the family. It felt, in many ways, like a baton being passed.
First Elected to Queensland Parliament in 2020
Jimmy Sullivan was first elected to the Queensland Parliament in October 2020 as a Labor MP, representing the electorate of Stafford. It was a significant win — Stafford is a competitive seat in Brisbane’s north, and getting across the line required real grassroots effort. Sullivan ran as someone deeply connected to his community, and voters responded.
Once elected, he threw himself into the work. He was active in committee roles, worked with local schools, sporting clubs and community organisations, and built a reputation as a hands-on local representative.
Re-Election in 2024 Despite a Tough Swing
The 2024 Queensland state election was brutal for Labor. The Miles government was swept from power by David Crisafulli’s Liberal National Party. Many Labor MPs lost their seats. But Jimmy Sullivan held on — surviving a 5.5 per cent swing against him and retaining Stafford in a tough political environment. That result spoke to just how much goodwill he’d built up in the electorate over four years.
It was a personal win in what was otherwise a very dark night for Queensland Labor.
His Role in Government and the Miles Administration
Assistant Minister for Justice and Veterans Affairs
During his time with the Labor government, Sullivan served as assistant to the Minister for Justice and Veterans Affairs in Premier Steven Miles’s administration. It was a role that drew on his legal background and gave him a platform to advocate on issues of justice reform and veterans’ support.
Those who worked with him during this period remember him as genuinely committed to the portfolios, not just going through the motions.
Chief of Staff to Former Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath
Before his ministerial role, Sullivan had served as a long-serving chief of staff to former Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath. It was a position that placed him at the centre of Queensland’s legal and justice policy, and it helped shape his approach to parliament. He wasn’t a backroom operator who stumbled into a seat — he had deep policy experience before he ever stood for election himself.
The Events That Led to His Crossbench Seat
The 2024 Post-Election Incident
The day after the 2024 state election, police were called to Sullivan’s home in Kedron following a reported domestic incident. No charges were ever laid, and the matter was later dismissed by the courts. But the incident attracted significant public and political attention, and it set off a difficult period for Sullivan that would continue for months.
Placed on Leave and Disendorsed by Labor in May 2025
Following the incident, Sullivan was placed on leave to deal with medical and legal matters. In May 2025, after a motion was brought in parliament by then-Opposition Leader Steven Miles, Sullivan was formally disendorsed by Queensland Labor. He became an independent MP, sitting on the crossbench for the remaining period of his parliamentary career.
The LNP government had moved a motion calling for his resignation from parliament. Sullivan stood to speak in his own defence in an emotional address to the chamber. He addressed the allegation directly, telling MPs there had been no violence and that the issue came down to using unparliamentary language — something he acknowledged and took responsibility for.
His Emotional Parliamentary Address as an Independent
Sullivan’s first parliamentary speech as an independent is one that those who witnessed it won’t forget easily. He broke down as he spoke, disclosing publicly for the first time that he had been battling post-traumatic stress disorder. He thanked those who had given him the time and space to address his health. He reaffirmed his commitment to his community. And he told the chamber he was “Labor to his core” — a statement that captured the genuine conflict between his party identity and his new independent status.
It was raw, honest, and deeply human. In a chamber not always known for emotional openness, it stood out.
Jimmy Sullivan’s Mental Health Battle and Public Honesty
PTSD Following the Death of His First Daughter
Sullivan’s PTSD was not linked to anything political. It stemmed from something far more personal and devastating — the death of his first daughter, who was stillborn at 35 weeks. He disclosed that his PTSD had been triggered by the birth of his second daughter, who was alive and healthy, but whose arrival brought back the grief of the earlier loss in ways he hadn’t expected.
“I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare,” he told parliament. His daughter from his second pregnancy was set to turn two this year.
Why His Openness Mattered
Mental health conversations in politics are still not common enough. When a sitting MP stands up in parliament and talks honestly about spiralling, about grief, about therapy — it means something. It chips away at the stigma that too often keeps people suffering in silence.
Sullivan didn’t have to say any of that publicly. He chose to. And for other people going through similar experiences — parents who have lost children, people navigating grief while trying to function at work — that kind of honesty from a public figure carries real weight.
The Night Jimmy Sullivan Was Found Dead
Police Called to Stafford Unit on Thursday Night
Police were called to Jimmy Sullivan’s unit in Stafford at approximately 10:15pm on Thursday, April 10, 2026. When officers arrived, they found his body inside the property. Sullivan was 44 years old.
Reports from the Courier-Mail indicated that investigators were looking into the possibility that Sullivan may have suffered a fall inside the unit. No further details have been confirmed publicly at the time of writing.
Death Not Treated as Suspicious
Queensland Police confirmed that the death was not being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner, which is standard procedure when an unexpected or sudden death occurs. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to formally establish the cause of death.
Tributes Pour In From Across Queensland Politics
Premier David Crisafulli’s Statement
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli was among the first political leaders to speak publicly following the news. In a formal statement, Crisafulli said that Queenslanders would be shocked to hear of the sudden passing of the Member for Stafford. On behalf of all Queenslanders, he extended heartfelt condolences to Sullivan’s family during what he described as a difficult time. Given that Crisafulli leads the LNP — the opposition to the party Sullivan had spent most of his career serving — the warmth of that statement reflected genuine cross-party respect.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles Responds
Former Labor premier and current Opposition Leader Steven Miles also offered a brief statement, asking that thoughts go to Jimmy’s family, friends and community. Their relationship in his final months in parliament had been strained — Miles had been involved in the motion that ultimately led to Sullivan’s disendorsement — but in the immediate aftermath of the news, the focus was on grief and respect, not political history.
Queensland Labor’s Statement of Grief
The Queensland Labor Party released a statement saying that all of them in the Labor family were in shock at the sudden and tragic passing of their friend and colleague. The party spoke of honouring his memory and his deep connection to the local community where he was born, raised and had honoured to serve his whole life. It was a reminder that political fallouts, however public and painful, don’t erase years of shared work and genuine friendship.
Colleagues Remember a Dedicated Local MP
Former Labor MP Kim Richards described Sullivan as a great colleague, a valued member of their committee team and a real support to her. “While he faced his own challenges, I will remember the time I worked with him with gratitude and respect,” Richards said.
Those who worked alongside him consistently emphasised two things: his commitment to the Stafford community, and his genuine passion for the law and justice portfolio. Whatever his personal difficulties in his final year, the professional legacy that colleagues remembered was one of dedication and community service.
What Happens Next — The Stafford By-Election
How a By-Election is Triggered in Queensland
In Queensland, when a member of parliament dies in office, their seat immediately becomes vacant. A by-election must be held to fill that vacancy. The Governor of Queensland issues a writ for the by-election, and the Queensland Electoral Commission then oversees the process. The timeline for a by-election typically ranges from several weeks to a few months after the vacancy is formally declared.
Given that Stafford is in Brisbane’s north and was already a competitive seat — one that Sullivan held by a reduced margin in 2024 — the by-election is expected to be keenly contested.
What This Means for the Stafford Electorate
For the people of Stafford, the coming weeks will involve both mourning and transition. A community that has just lost its long-serving local representative now faces the prospect of a by-election campaign. Residents will be choosing not just a replacement MP but the direction in which they want their electorate to go — whether that’s back to Labor, toward the LNP, or to an independent candidate who can continue the community-focused tradition Sullivan built.
The seat has history with both major parties, and the by-election outcome is not a foregone conclusion either way.
Jimmy Sullivan’s Legacy in the Stafford Community
Jimmy Sullivan was, by almost every account, a local to his core. He grew up in Stafford, went to school there, lived his adult life there, and raised his family there. His political career was built on the idea that the best representatives are the ones who actually know — and are known by — the people they serve.
Beyond the politics, Sullivan was remembered for his work with schools, community groups and sporting clubs throughout the electorate. He was a regular face at local events. He wasn’t just there for the big moments or the photo opportunities — he showed up.
His decision to speak openly about his PTSD, about grief, about struggling while still trying to function — that kind of honesty doesn’t disappear when someone is gone. It leaves a mark. And for the Stafford community that watched him from the beginning, his memory will be complicated and full — not reduced to either the controversies or the tributes alone, but held in the full human complexity that he himself was willing to show.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jimmy Sullivan
How old was Jimmy Sullivan when he died?
Jimmy Sullivan was 44 years old at the time of his death. He was found at his home unit in Stafford, Brisbane, on the night of Thursday, April 10, 2026.
How did Jimmy Sullivan die?
Police confirmed that Sullivan’s death is not being treated as suspicious. A report is being prepared for the coroner. Early reports suggest authorities were investigating the possibility of an accidental fall inside his unit, though no official cause of death has been formally confirmed.
Was Jimmy Sullivan Labor or independent at the time of his death?
At the time of his death, Jimmy Sullivan was sitting as an independent MP. He had been a Labor MP since his first election in 2020, but was disendorsed by the Queensland Labor Party in May 2025 and moved to the crossbench as an independent for the remainder of his parliamentary term.
Who is Jimmy Sullivan’s father?
His father is Terry Sullivan, a former Queensland Labor MP who served from 1991, initially representing the electorate of Nundah before serving Stafford from 2001 to 2006. Terry Sullivan also served two terms as government whip. He is 77 years old.
What is the Stafford electorate?
Stafford is a state electoral district in Brisbane’s north. It covers suburbs in the northern part of Brisbane and has been represented by both Labor and LNP politicians over the years. Jimmy Sullivan represented Stafford from his election in October 2020 until his death in April 2026.
Will there be a by-election after Jimmy Sullivan’s death?
Yes. Under Queensland electoral law, the death of a sitting MP triggers a by-election for that seat. The Governor of Queensland will issue a writ, and the Queensland Electoral Commission will administer the by-election process. Stafford is expected to be a competitive contest given its recent electoral history.
Did Jimmy Sullivan have a family?
Yes. Sullivan is survived by his wife Carolyn McAnally and their young daughter, who was set to turn two in 2026. He had also lost his first daughter, who was stillborn at 35 weeks — a grief he spoke about publicly in parliament when he disclosed his battle with PTSD.
What role did Jimmy Sullivan hold in government?
Sullivan served as assistant to the Minister for Justice and Veterans Affairs in the Miles Labor government. Prior to that, he had a long career as chief of staff to former Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and judge’s associate in the District Court of Queensland.