The Queensland MP found dead in a Brisbane unit endured a series of devastating blows in his personal and professional life in the months before his death.
The body of Independent MP Jimmy Sullivan was discovered on Thursday night inside his Stafford apartment when officers attended the property for a welfare check.
Police will now investigate whether the 44-year-old had suffered a fatal fall.
His tragic end followed a tumultuous year for the politician who had been expelled from the state Labor party caucus amid personal issues and later splitting from his wife.
He broke down in parliament in May last year as he addressed his growing issues, while political rivals clamoured for him to resign after his move to the crossbenches as an independent.
Sullivan had moved out of his family home and separated from his wife Carolyn McAnally, less than two years after the couple welcomed their second daughter.
It followed reports of a domestic violence incident at the couple’s home in the leafy suburb of Kedron, just hours after he was re-elected to parliament in October 2024.
The matter was later dismissed following a court appearance and Sullivan faced no charges.
Jimmy Sullivan (pictured with estranged wife Carolyn) was found dead in his Brisbane unit on Thursday night
In May 2025, Sullivan broke down in parliament as he opened up about his personal issues
The police probe was launched just two months after he and his wife had welcomed their second child, five years after their first daughter was stillborn at 35 weeks.
On his return to parliament in February 2025 after a lengthy absence, Sullivan thanked colleagues for giving him time and space to address his health issues.
‘I apologise for my absence in recent sitting weeks, but I have been working hard in the community since my election,’ he said.
‘I thank the professionals – the doctors, nurses, allied health and support staff – at the Brisbane Private Hospital for their care and support.
‘With their help, I am a better dad and a better husband.’
But just three months later, Sullivan was disendorsed and expelled from the Queensland Labor caucus for failing to comply with a return-to-work plan while he battled health and personal issues.
Multiple sources raised concerns about Sullivan’s welfare and his drinking habits, the Courier Mail reported at the time.
The MP was seen drinking at a work event on the Labour Day public holiday, despite Sullivan having reportedly previously agreed not to do so.
Hours after Sullivan was re-elected to serve a second term in October 2024, police were called to a ‘reported domestic violence incident’ at his home in the leafy suburb of Kedron
Jimmy Sullivan was expelled from the Queensland Labor caucus last May for failing to comply with a return-to-work plan as he battled health and personal issues. He is pictured leaving parliament following the decision
‘As far as I’m concerned, this is final,’ Labor leader Steven Miles told reporters afterwards.
‘He hasn’t complied with that plan and as a result, we have sought caucus support to take this action.
‘The support for this motion was unanimous, other than the member for Stafford, and has the effect of expelling him from the caucus.’
Sullivan made a hasty exit from parliament via a backdoor and hours later, slammed Labor’s claims as ‘completely untrue.’
‘This is a cheap political move – one that is not just personally hurtful but also against the principles of our great party,’ he said at the time.
‘I complied with every requirement placed on me, and more, and that was articulated to the leadership team in detail.’
Sullivan said he had ‘bled for Labor’ since he was a teen and vowed to continue to represent his Labor branch members, despite being booted by the party.
He was forced to move to the crossbench and serve as an independent after he opted not to trigger a by-election for his seat.
The Stafford MP announced the safe arrival of his second daughter in August 2024, five years after the stillborn loss of his first child
Police are investigating whether the 44-year-old suffered a fall at his unit on Thursday night
Weeks later, Sullivan publicly broke down in parliament following relentless calls and an official motion by the Crisafulli government to resign as MP.
He was forced to address the incident at his home six months earlier as he slammed the ‘disgusting’ attacks against him.
‘I used a word that we would describe in this place as unparliamentary – I swore,’ he said.
‘That is the basis of what those matters were about. That is why my legal team says that they have never seen a matter dismissed so quickly.
‘There was no violence.’
He also opened up about his post-traumatic stress over the stillborn loss of his first daughter Francesca in 2019, triggered by the birth of his second daughter in August 2024.
‘I obviously went into PTSD with the loss of our first daughter, and our beautiful (second) daughter could have been her twin. It set me off,’ Sullivan said.
‘I spiralled, I recognise that, and I put my hand up for healthcare.’
Sullivan paid tribute to his wife and late firstborn daughter in his inaugural parliamentary speech in 2020.
‘The most important person I want to thank is Carolyn, my wife. I am so lucky to have you in my life,’ he said.
Police are nor treating Jimmy Sullivan’s death as suspicious
The MP paid tribute to his wife and first daughter in his inaugural parliamentary speech
‘Your intelligence, beauty, humour and accomplishments in your own world cannot be appropriately captured here today.
‘Can I simply say I love you and I am so proud to be doing this with you.’
He also opened up on the loss of baby Francesca Charlotte, or Frankie, at 35 weeks in April 2019.
‘I said at her funeral that there may come a day when I can say her name without crying – obviously not yet – but there will never be a day that the thought of her and talk of her will not bring a smile to my face, pride to my soul and great joy to my heart that Frankie, the beautiful child that she was, brought such joy to this world already,’ Sullivan said.
‘Frankie is not the reason I believe in a strong healthcare system, although I passionately do but she is the reason I will try to contribute what I can to tackling this failing in the broader health system that has not seen a reduction in the rate of stillborns across the last two decades.
‘Frankie is forever with me and continues to shape the person I am, including what sort of member I will be.’
The news of Sullivan’s death sent shockwaves through both sides of politics and his community on Friday.
‘Queenslanders will be shocked to hear of the sudden passing of Member for Stafford Jimmy Sullivan,’ Premier Crisafulli said in a statement.
Jimmy Sullivan was first elected as the member for Stafford at the 2020 Queensland election
‘On behalf of all Queenslanders, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.’
A shorter statement from Opposition Leader Miles read: ‘Our thoughts are with Jimmy’s family, friends and community this morning as we all process this news.’
Sullivan followed in the footsteps of his father Terry, who also served as the member for Stafford from 2001 to 2006.
‘Jimmy had two big loves; his family and his community. I would always get the family update whenever I ran into him, as he was so proud of them,’ federal Brisbane MP and close friend Madonna Jarrett wrote.
‘His second love was his local Stafford community which he was passionate about.
‘While the past couple of years were not easy for him, I will always remember Jimmy as the caring, energetic and life-filled man I met all those years ago; not to mention his characteristic smile.
‘He will be missed.’
A former lawyer and former Judge’s Associate in the District Court of Queensland, Sullivan previously served as chief of staff to former attorney-general Yvette D’Ath.
He also previously worked in the office of US Democratic Senator Ron Wyden in Washington, DC.
A by-election for Stafford will be held at a later date.
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