Meet Sam

Early Life & education

Sam grew up around his family’s electrical retail business R T Edwards and completed degrees in Science (Biomedical Science) and Arts (Political Science) at the University of Queensland. 

Career before parliament

Prior to entering public life, Sam worked in the hospitality industry at venues like the Labrador AFL Sports Club and in a media and communications role at his local Federal MP’s electorate office in Labrador. He also served in many voluntary roles on the committees of local community organisations like the Labrador Community Garden and at Paradise Point Meals on Wheels.

PARLIAMENTARY service

Sam was elected to the Queensland Parliament in 2017 as the first Member for Bonney, then a newly-created electorate on the Gold Coast extending from Harbour Town in the north to Griffith University in the south and sitting between the M1 and the Broadwater. He proudly serves the people he represents in Labrador, Arundel, Parkwood, The Surrounds, Biggera Waters, Coombabah and Southport. 

Advocacy & achievements

In his time as a parliamentarian, Sam has advocated for a second M1 to give local traffic an alternative, to save Arundel Hills from inappropriate state government rezoning, to protect the critically endangered Eastern Curlew habitat on the sandbanks off Labrador, to build more housing in the right locations and to safeguard what makes our area special from overdevelopment, for more police resources at Southport Station and to deliver infrastructure upgrades at our local state schools. He is also a passionate supporter of the Jack Beasley Foundation and their work to reduce knife crime and youth violence by taking weapons off our streets and educating young people about the dangers of carrying weapons. 

Current roles & responsibilities

As well as being a local MP, Sam has previously served as Shadow Assistant Minister to the Opposition Leader and for Youth and currently serves as Shadow Minister for Environment, the Great Barrier Reef, Science, Innovation and Youth.