Talk:Bisma Asif

Edit request 10 April 2025

What I think should be changed (include citations): Background Bisma Asif is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Labor Party, representing the electoral district of Sandgate in the Queensland Parliament. She is the first Muslim and the first person of Pakistani and Punjabi heritage to be elected to the Queensland Parliament, reflecting the state's growing multicultural fabric.

Born in Pakistan, Bisma migrated to Australia with her family in 2004 in pursuit of a brighter future. Her early years in Australia were marked by resilience and determination as she navigated challenges, including learning English as a second language. These experiences have deeply influenced her values of social justice, universal healthcare, and equal opportunity. Bisma speaks four languages - Urdu, English, Punjabi and Hindi.

Early life and education Bisma's family arrived in Australia in 2004, first settling in Blacktown, Western Sydney. She attended local schools and worked hard to adapt to her new environment. In 2007, her family became Australian citizens.

Later, the family moved to Queensland, where Bisma graduated from Wynnum State High School. Despite facing financial struggles and personal challenges, she pursued her education, earning an economics degree from the University of Queensland whilst working multiple jobs.

Political career Bisma’s political journey began during the 2016 federal election, driven by her passion to protect universal healthcare, particularly Medicare. She campaigned for Wayne Swan and found inspiration in the Labor Party’s commitment to addressing inequality.

Prior to her election, Bisma worked for Senator Anthony Chisholm and later served as a policy adviser to Anika Wells, the Federal Minister for Aged Care. She played a role in advancing key historic aged-care reforms under the Albanese Government.

In 2024, Bisma was elected as the Member for Sandgate, succeeding Stirling Hinchliffe. She acknowledged her predecessor’s contributions and drew inspiration from his dedication to the community, the Labor Party, and democracy.

Advocacy and policy priorities Bisma Asif’s policy priorities reflect her lived experiences and core Labor values:

Universal Public Healthcare: Bisma is an advocate for accessible healthcare, striving to ensure that no one is left behind due to their postcode, income, or background. Secure and Well-Paid Jobs: She advocates for investment in secure jobs and fair pay, drawing from her experiences of wage theft in hospitality. Education: Recognising the transformative power of education, Bisma advocates to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. Multiculturalism and Inclusion: Bisma celebrates Queensland’s diversity and amplifies the voices of its multicultural communities.

Connection to Sandgate As the Member for Sandgate, Bisma is connected to the local community, which encompasses the suburbs of Sandgate, Brighton, Deagon, Shorncliffe, Bracken Ridge, Taigum, Fitzgibbon, and Bald Hills. She is passionate about preserving the area’s unique character, from the vibrant foreshore and wetlands to its multicultural neighbourhoods and strong community spirit.

Bisma’s maiden speech highlighted stories of her constituents, reflecting the everyday lives and aspirations of Sandgate’s families. She committed to being a bold and ambitious advocate for the community, fighting for a fairer future for all.

Personal life Bisma is proud of her Pakistani heritage and is fluent in Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. Her faith and upbringing have instilled a deep commitment to service, justice, and inclusivity in her. She continues to draw strength from her family’s journey and her community’s support.

Legacy and vision Bisma Asif envisions a Queensland where health care, education, and equal opportunity are not privileges but fundamental rights. She remains unwavering in her dedication to building a better, fairer future for all, guided by her Labor values and her lived experiences.

• Why it should be changed:

The current wording is very minimal and does not include any details about the electorate, Bisma's connection to the area, and lacks detail around her life and career history, as well as political priorities.

• References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button):

References

Hinchliffe, Joe (2 November 2024). "To Labor's Bisma Asif, becoming Queensland's first Muslim state MP is 'spectacular but ordinary'". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
"'I am proud': state's first Muslim MP makes history". The Queenslander. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
"Member Details | Queensland Parliament". www.parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
"Queensland Labor". Queensland Labor. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
Wells, Anika (12/09/2024). "Once in a generation aged care reforms".  {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help): Check date values in: |date= (help)
Elks, Sarah (11 October 2023). "Stirling Hinchliffe calls it quits after 17 years to 'put family first'". The Australian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
"Bisma Asif: Fresh Face for Labor in Sandgate". Sandgate Guide. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
"'I am proud': state's first Muslim MP makes history". The Queenslander. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2025.

Sarch22 (talk) 01:36, 10 April 2025 (UTC)

You've literally said in your edit summary that she's your boss and you are paid by her, and that this editing is at her instruction! Please cease trying to edit the page as paid editing is very much against Wikipedia's guidelines. GraziePrego (talk) 01:38, 10 April 2025 (UTC)

I have to go to bed, so I can't deal with this request now. If another editor would like to do so before I get to it, they are welcome to (Links to the sources can be found in Sarch22's reverted edit).

My initial read of it is that most of the text cannot be used, but the sources and some of the facts can. Being the first Muslim MP for Queensland is notable, and fleshing out her biography a bit would be good. Self-reported "political priorities" aren't really a thing that we include in politicians' articles, though. --AntiDionysius (talk) 01:53, 10 April 2025 (UTC)

 Partly done: @Sarch22, I have added the pertinent facts from your proposed text that were not already in the article, using the sources provided. A number of facts that would have been suitable for inclusion in the article were not mentioned in any of the sources (that I could find, anyway), including:

• That Asif and her family became citizens in 2007
• That she worked for Anthony Chisholm before being elected
• Her exact date of birth

I have not included those, per WP:V. If there are any reliable sources that can support them, I'd be happy to make another edit.

I also did not include the photo, as it's not clear that it is copyright-free. --AntiDionysius (talk) 15:29, 10 April 2025 (UTC)