Wikipedia
Edward Lynam O'Brien (born 7 May 1974) is an Australian politician who served as the deputy leader of the Opposition from 2025 to 2026. He held office as the deputy leader of the Liberal Party under Sussan Ley and has been the member of Parliament (MP) for the Queensland division of Fairfax since 2016. Prior to entering politics, he was a businessman and lobbyist, serving as chairman of the Australian Republic Movement from 2005 until 2007.
0
Rebellions
Never rebelled
1515
Votes attended
2093
Possible votes
72%
Attendance rate
Voting Record
Full record ↗
Voted for
privatising government-owned assets increasing accessibility of government data and documents increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts putting welfare payments onto cashless debit cards (or indue cards) on a temporary basis as a trial a same-sex marriage plebiscite increasing the initial tax rate for working holiday makers to 19% an Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) increasing scrutiny of unions stopping people who arrive by boat from ever coming to Australia getting rid of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates reducing the corporate tax rate
Mixed / less clear
live animal export privatising certain government services decreasing availability of welfare payments increasing investment in the coal industry making the cashless debit card program voluntary and not mandatory a character test for Australian visas unconventional gas mining increasing the cost of humanities degrees speeding things along in Parliament (procedural) climate change mitigation strategies (e.g., carbon capture and storage) increasing protection of Australia's fresh water
Voted against
increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace restricting foreign ownership increasing restrictions on gambling increasing consumer protections increasing the diversity of media ownership decreasing the gender pay gap creating a federal Anti-Corruption Commission stopping tax avoidance or aggressive tax minimisation increasing funding for legal aid federal action on public housing
Recent Votes – Current Parliament
The 10 most recent “Aye” and “No” votes recorded in the Australian Parliament's own division records this term, sourced directly from aph.gov.au independently of the voting-record data above.
Most recent Aye votes
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-28 – Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-14 – Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2026 (Tax/Economy/Finance)
- 2026-10-13 – Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Illicit Tobacco Enforcement Modernisation and Other Measures) Bill 2026 (Immigration/Border)
- 2026-09-16 – Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 (Tax/Economy/Finance)
- 2026-09-16 – Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 (Tax/Economy/Finance)
- 2026-08-20 – Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (Defence/National Security)
- 2026-08-19 – News Journalism Payments Bill 2026 (Communications/Tech/Media)
Most recent No votes
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 3) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Income Tax Rates Amendment (Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Income Tax Rates Amendment (Minimum Tax on Discretionary Trusts) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 4) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-29 – Domestic Gas Reservation Bill 2026
- 2026-10-28 – Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026
- 2026-10-28 – Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026
Interests & Gifts
Shareholdings
- Self: Aurizon Holdings Ltd; Super Retail Rep Ltd; Suncorp Grp Ltd; Woolworths Grp Ltd; The Lottery Corporation
- Spouse/partner: Findi
Trusts And Nominee Companies
- I Beneficial Interest — Self: Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Sophia - GCI - Gryphon Capital Income Trust · Nature Of Operation: Managed investment · Beneficial Interests: No; Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Sophia - Regal Investment Fund · Nature Of Operation: Managed investment · Beneficial Interests: No; Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Children - Ophir High Conviction Fund · Nature Of Operation: Managed investment · Beneficial Interests: No
- I Beneficial Interest — Spouse/partner: Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Store Invest Enhanced Income Fund No. 1 · Nature Of Operation: Investment vehicle for self storage properties · Beneficial Interests: Yes; Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: MXT (Metrics) Master Income Trust · Nature Of Operation: unitholding in Australian based alternative asset manager · Beneficial Interests: Yes; Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Sophia - GCI - Gryphon Capital Income Trust · Nature Of Operation: Managed investment · Beneficial Interests: Yes; Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Sophia - Regal Investment Fund · Nature Of Operation: Managed Investment · Beneficial Interests: Yes
- I Beneficial Interest — Dependent children: Name Of Trust Or Nominee Company: Equity for Children - Ophir High Conviction Fund · Nature Of Operation: Management Invesment · Beneficial Interests: Yes
Real Estate
- Self: Location: Buderim Qld · Purpose: Primary Residence; Location: Canberra ACT · Purpose: Second residence for sitting weeks and during other Parliamentary duties; Location: Canberra ACT · Purpose: Investment
- Spouse/partner: Location: Buderim QLD · Purpose: Primary Residence
Directorships
- Self: Generation Innovation
- Spouse/partner: Generation Innovation
Liabilities
- Self: Nature Of Liability: Home loan (Joint) against Buderim property · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Liability: Home loan (Joint) against Canberra property · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank
- Spouse/partner: Nature Of Liability: Home loan (Joint) against Buderim property · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Liability: Home loan (Joint) against Canberra property · Creditor: Commonwealth Bank
Saving Or Investment Accounts
- Self: Nature Of Account: Savings Account (joint) · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Complete Access Account (joint) · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Mastercard · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Personal Credit Card · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Electorate Allowance Transaction Account · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Superannuation Account · Institution: Australian Super
- Spouse/partner: Nature Of Account: Savings Account (joint) · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Complete Access Account (joint) · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Savings Account (sole) · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Superannuation Account · Institution: Uni Super; Nature Of Account: Managed Investment Scheme · Institution: Ord Minnett Multi-Asset High Growth Portfolio
- Dependent children: Nature Of Account: Youth Saver Account · Institution: Commonwealth Bank; Nature Of Account: Managed investment scheme, encompassing separately managed accounts · Institution: Investor directed portfolio service
Other Assets Over 7500
- Self: Car
- Spouse/partner: Car
Gifts
- Self: Qantas Chairman's Lounge Membership; Virgin VIP Club Membership; Astra TV Subscription in Electorate Office
Sponsored Travel Or Hospitality Over 300
- Self: Travel - flights, ground transfers, meals and accommodation provided by "China Matters" for a study tour to China: 23-29 Sept 2019.; Travel - flights, ground transfers, meals and accommodation provided by "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)" for a study tour to Taiwan: 29 October - 1 November 2019.; Contribution of $5,000 towards accommodation and domestic flights provided by "Coalition for Conservation" for a study tour to the USA and Canada: 23 Jan - 9 Feb 2023.; Attendance at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, including flights, accommodation, transfers, conference registration and events provided by "Alliance for Responsible Citizenship" held in the United Kingdom: expenses spread between 27 Oct - 5 Nov 2023.; Attendance at COP28, including flights, accommodation, transfers, conference registration and events provided by "Coalition for Conservation" held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: expenses spread between 5 Dec - 13 Dec 2023.
Memberships Conflict Possible
- Self: Queensland Club
Salary
We estimate Ted O'Brien received a parliamentary salary of: $442,650
Based on the Remuneration Tribunal base salary of $239,270 plus any additional allowance for ministerial, shadow or office-holder roles held at time of generation.
Expenditure
Expenses data not available for this period.
Full expenses databaseCompare expenses with other politiciansLatest Guardian Articles
- Angus Taylor will challenge for the Liberal leadership – but who will be the deputy?
- O’Brien accepts invite to Chalmers roundtable – as it happened
- ‘Bordering on incredible’: Coalition under fire for planning to scrap Labor climate policies and offering none of its own
- Afternoon Update Election 2025: barbs traded over energy plans; China invite rebuffed; and a tall tale
- Pro-nuclear MP says Labor ‘weaponising’ CSIRO report showing renewables are cheapest
- Coalition opposes Australia tripling renewable energy, backs nuclear power pledge at Cop28
- Coalition MP’s ‘grassroots’ nuclear power survey linked to consulting firm
- LNP believes Queensland marginal seats 'back in play under Morrison
- Clive Palmer claims to have proof of Queensland government corruption
- Greens to appeal decision not to recount WA votes for Senate
Conversation Articles
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