今日吃瓜

A 19-year-old openly gay candidate has emerged as one of the ALP鈥檚 picks for the upcoming Queensland state poll.

Ryan Moore will seek election in the seat of Glass House, which covers the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

A volunteer at Brisbane community broadcaster 4ZZZ who was inspired to join the Labor Party after a chance encounter with former prime minister Kevin Rudd, Moore has been a fierce gay rights advocate since becoming politically active two years ago.

鈥淢y work with 4ZZZ sparked my interest in politics and the difference it can make in people鈥檚 lives,鈥� Moore told the Star Observer.

鈥淚n terms of the Labor Party, I saw how Kevin Rudd interacted with an organisation I worked for called the Oaktree Foundation, which funds educational projects in the third world, and was amazed at his support.鈥�

Moore now sees himself thrown onto a much larger stage than community radio, where he intends to run on local issues while retaining his strong passion for LGBTI community advocacy.

No stranger to successful young candidates (see: 21-year-old Wyatt Roy鈥檚 successful federal election bid last year), Moore says its no big secret as to why Queensland has become a breeding ground for enthusiastic young players in politics.

鈥淚 think the political scene is rejuvinating and the ALP is refreshing itself,鈥� he said.

鈥淚鈥檓 not the only young candidate, we have another 19-year-old in Southern Downs and some people in their early 20s running in Brisbane鈥檚 northern suburbs.

鈥淧arties recognise the need to rejuvinate and engage with a demographic that often aren鈥檛 represented in Parliament.鈥�

Labor lost Glass House in the 2009 election to the Liberal National Party鈥檚 Andrew Powell, but Moore believes he鈥檚 well placed to challenge.

鈥淚鈥檝e lived in Maleny for a very long time and looking at the LNP鈥檚 plan for Queensland – which is to rip away years of reform with very little structure to doing so – once I have an opportunity to get into that with the community, I鈥檓 in with a good chance,鈥� he said.

In light of the recent threat by Independent MP Rob Messenger to repeal the state鈥檚 Civil Partnerships Act, Moore said he鈥檒l be ready to defend the legislation if elected.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it matters whether it鈥檚 Rob Messenger or the LNP, there鈥檚 going to be a push to repeal [civil unions] in the next term,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he funny thing is the LNP have have spoken about how they think it鈥檚 a waste of time in Parliament in the first place and how it鈥檚 a distraction, so why do they want to repeal it?

鈥淧arliament is not here to take away people鈥檚 rights, and rights they鈥檝e fought very hard for at that. If there is a push for a repeal I鈥檒l be standing steadfastly against it.鈥�