Forty-five years ago in 1979 Councillor Paul Tully first stepped into the Ipswich City Council chambers.
After fourteen elections, he re-enters the chambers for another term.
“One election just led to another,” Cr Tully said.
“Originally they were three year terms and then became four year terms in 2000. We were part-time councillors up until 1995. I worked for the Commonwealth Government prior to 1995, then became a full-time councillor.”
Over the years, Cr Tully has witnessed Ipswich grow from a city of 80,000 to one of Queensland’s largest with a population over 250,000, enduring floods, financial crises, the rise of the internet and challenging times for the city.
Now Queensland’s longest-serving councillor, the Division 2 representative says each term has been defined by new challenges and opportunities for the people of the city.
Previous council terms have been governed by council’s responses to major challenges – from the 1974, 2011 and 2022 floods, to the long-term impacts of the Global Financial Crisis on the city’s industry in 2007-2008, and COVID in 2020.
“Almost every term has been punctuated by some sort of major event,” Cr Tully said.
“Even at the 1979 election, the 1974 flood was still in people’s minds and the city took a long time to recover from that.
“Before amalgamation up until 1995, the new suburb of Springfield was part of the adjoining Moreton Shire Council, not part of Ipswich.
“Ipswich is still vying now with Logan as the fastest-growing city in Queensland and rate of development has been astonishing.”
Key Facts - Cr Tully
- Outside of his work as a councillor, Cr Tully is a keen observer of politics.
- He has a law degree from the University of Queensland.
- Cr Tully keeps honeybees and native bees.
- He is a qualified amateur radio operator – 4K4PGT.
Cr Tully said in this term his focus would be on ensuring council delivered the basics without breaking the bank, in an increasingly challenging fiscal environment.
“That embraces better roads, better parks and environmental protection including the city’s koalas,” Cr Tully said.
“We must take into account the financial position many Australians are in at the moment including the housing crisis which is not directly our responsibility, but people are doing it tough.”
It’s always the ultimate dilemma at budget time, between doing more for the community and the cost to the community of doing it.
Division 2 at a glance
Division 2 is part of Ipswich’s rapidly expanding eastern suburbs and is represented by Cr Paul Tully and Cr Nicole Jonic.
The Division spans the suburbs of Augustine Heights, Bellbird Park, Brookwater, Camira, Carole Park, Gailes, Goodna, Spring Mountain, Springfield, Springfield Central, Springfield Lakes and Redbank.
With a population of over 70,000, the Division incorporates well-established suburbs and areas of growth to the south.
Ipswich City Council 2024-2028 Mayor and Councillors at the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, 2 April 2024.
