Against All Odds: AI Professor Takes on Labor Strongholds for the Fourth Time

Paul Darwen recognizes that his chances of unseating incumbent Treasurer Jim Chalmers in the Rankin seat are slim, yet he firmly believes that voters deserve options.

This is not the first time the Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate has stepped into the political arena.

The upcoming 2025 federal election will mark his fourth attempt as a candidate in a secure Labor seat located on the southern outskirts of Brisbane, adjacent to Logan City.

Raised on a mango farm in North Queensland, Darwen pursued studies in mathematics and physics before earning a PhD in artificial intelligence (AI).

He has worked as a researcher and played pivotal roles in various start-ups, and he currently serves as an associate dean at James Cook University.

His initial foray into elections was in 2020, where he contested against state Transport Minister Mark Bailey, obtaining 30.6 percent of the primary vote. He entered the federal scene in 2022, challenging Treasurer Chalmers for the first time and garnering 29 percent of the vote.

In 2024, he challenged for the Woodridge seat held by Queensland state Treasurer Cameron Dick, achieving 21 percent of the vote. This time, he will face Chalmers again, who currently holds Rankin with a 43.9 percent primary vote and 59.1 percent after preferences.

Instead of being placed in a secure LNP seat, Darwen remains committed to his local area, believing that every voter should have a choice. He emphasizes that he doesn’t need to “feather his nest” or ascend the political hierarchy.

“In Illinois, during state elections, more than half of the voters receive a ballot with only one choice because the two major parties often don’t contest seats safely held by the other side,” he shared with The Epoch Times.

“That situation is detrimental to democracy. It fosters feelings of abandonment among the electorate, leading to cynicism.”

Taking Initiative

According to the Australian Electoral Commission, winning Rankin would require at least a 9 percent swing away from Labor.

Darwen highlights the importance of initiative.

“People frequently complain about politics, often saying, ‘Someone should do this,’ or ‘Someone should do that.’ My question is: who is this ‘someone’?”

“There is no ‘someone.’ Just you and me, and if we don’t act, nothing will change.”

However, he acknowledges the declining support for major parties.

“It’s been likened to choosing between broccoli-flavored ice cream and Brussels sprouts-flavored ice cream,” Darwen states.

Public Service Needs Careful Evaluation

Darwen also aims to explore whether public service sectors are unnecessarily large.

He noted that historically, taxpayer-funded bureaucracies have proven challenging to downsize or eliminate, referencing the “Peter Principle,” where individuals are promoted to higher positions despite lacking the necessary skills.

“Public servants are human and naturally desire to perform better. But achieving that often requires more personnel. Thus, the work expands to fill the time available,” Darwen explained.

He referenced the American Spruce Corporation.

“When the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, aircraft needed a lot of spruce wood. Congress established the American Spruce Corporation to plant and manage spruce plantations for that purpose,” he noted.

The corporation remained in operation until the 1980s under the Reagan administration, despite spruce wood falling out of favor decades earlier.

13 Million Unused Bedrooms

Darwen has a practical proposal he believes could address the national housing crisis.

He cites a survey revealing that Australia has 13 million empty bedrooms—enough to accommodate half the population.

In a time of crisis, it is logical to tackle the barriers preventing the utilization of those spaces.

“If you were to ask an elderly widow living alone in her four-bedroom house, ‘Why not sell and downsize?’ she might respond, ‘Stamp duty.’ It’s often more economical for her to remain in her large house until her passing than to sell and incur significant stamp duty costs,” Darwen remarked.

To encourage downsizing, state and territory governments are starting to offer discounts on stamp duty taxes for seniors who sell their homes and purchase a smaller property.