Register of Interest(PDF, 265KB)
First elected: 2000
Mayor: 2016 - present
Mayor Matt Burnett was born and raised in the Gladstone Region, with his family’s connection to the region extending six generations. He is a former small business operator and qualified journalist, having started his own newspaper, The Port Curtis Post, at the age of 19.
He has served in local government since 2000, including five years as Deputy Mayor prior to his election as Mayor. During his time in local government, Councillor Burnett served as Chairman of Technical Services with Gladstone City Council and as portfolio representative in Technical Services, Infrastructure Services, and Town Planning with Gladstone Regional Council after amalgamation in 2008.
Cr Burnett has always had the best interests of the community at heart, and as Mayor, he draws upon the experience he has gathered over his years in Council to ensure those interests remain a key consideration as the region continues to grow and develop.
Cr Burnett brings an inclusive style of leadership to Council, ensuring the thoughts and views of his fellow councillors, council officers, business and industry leaders, community groups and organisations, and community members are all heard and taken into consideration.
Cr Burnett represents Central Queensland and Australia as the President of both the Local Government Association of Queensland and the Australian Local Government Association.
Boards, committees and groups
- Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) President
- Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President
- Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (CQROC) Director
- Gladstone Local Disaster Management Group Chair/Recovery Coordinator.