Bisma Asif
Bisma Asif | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Sandgate | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Stirling Hinchliffe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1995 or 1996 (age 28–29)[1] Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Political party | Labor |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Profession | Politician |
Bisma Asif is an Australian politician. She represents Sandgate in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. Asif is the first Muslim to be elected to the Parliament of Queensland.[1]
Early life
Bisma Asif was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan and moved to Sydney with her family in 2004.[1][2]
She received a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland.[3] Asif has said that she became interested in politics and involved in the Labor Party at university, and worked on a campaign for former MP Wayne Swan.[4]
Political career
Prior to seeking elected office, Asif served as the president of Young Labor and as an advisor to Anika Wells.[4][5][6]
Asif was preselected by the Queensland Labor Party as its candidate for Sandgate at the 2024 Queensland state election to succeed the retiring incumbent Stirling Hinchliffe.[7] She was selected amid the requirement that two male Labor MPs would have to retire at the next election to make way for women in order to meet the party's gender quota affirmative action rules.[6][8]
Personal life
Asif is married and lives in Sandgate. She speaks Punjabi, English, Hindi and Urdu.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Hinchliffe, Joe (2 November 2024). "To Labor's Bisma Asif, becoming Queensland's first Muslim state MP is 'spectacular but ordinary'". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "'I am proud': state's first Muslim MP makes history". The Queenslander. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Member Details | Queensland Parliament". www.parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Bisma Asif: Fresh Face for Labor in Sandgate". Sandgate Guide. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ McKenna, Michael; Lynch, Lydia; Elks, Sarah (3 February 2023). "'LNP is being hijacked by young inner-city Liberals': Young guns shoot for power in Queensland". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ a b Elks, Sarah; Lynch, Lydia; McKenna, Michael (6 October 2023). "'Cease and desist': Andrew Laming threatens Amanda Stoker with defamation over 'abortion' quip". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Elks, Sarah (11 October 2023). "Stirling Hinchliffe calls it quits after 17 years to 'put family first'". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Lynch, Lydia; Elks, Sarah (14 April 2023). "Queensland election gender rules: Two male Labor MPs to be forced out for women candidates". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.