NEW Labor candidate for Cook, Cynthia Lui, says she will work hard to win the support of residents in the lead up to the state election.

The Cairns social worker has been fully endorsed by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said her Government had a strong record 'of delivering for Far North Queensland'. She said Lui would be a 'tenacious advocate' for Cook residents.

“I’ll be working hard, right up until election day to win the support of Cook residents,” said Ms Lui.

“I’m a Torres Strait Island woman from Yam Island and have lived in Cairns for the past eleven years.

“People up here in Far North Queensland remember the cuts made by Campbell Newman’s LNP to our vital government services.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m committed to making sure local families have access to first-class health care, quality education and local jobs.”

Lui will compete with former Cook Shire councillor Penny Gordon and potentially independent MP Billy Gordon, who is still deciding whether to run again.

Gordon has had a controversy riddled three-year tenure as an independent. He was abandoned by his then Labor Party soon after he was elected after revelations of his criminal record.

Lui has a long career in the areas of children’s health and child protection, and currently works as a Child Protection Unit Manager for Cape York/Gulf Remote Area Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Child Care (RAATSICC). She also holds a Bachelor of Social Science Double major (Tropical Health & Society and Political Science) from James Cook University’s Cairns campus

“I want Cynthia on my team to continue the fight for the health, education and infrastructure needs of the Far North,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

“She has the energy, drive and local experience to stand up for the residents of Cook.”