“It’s a big day – Jessie is our baby, our youngest,” Mr Tayler said. 

It has been a busy three weeks for the Tayler family; buying school books, uniforms, and lunchboxes – and of course, travelling during a short election campaign. 

The Mount Isa police officer and his wife Michelle have two children, Jessie, 5, and Jordan, 7. 

“The first lot of homework will come back; life’s got to keep moving,” Mr Tayler said, reflecting on Saturday’s election. 

He acknowledged the large amount of time he had spent on the campaign trail in previous weeks. 

“We had to make some sacrifices with our kids and family time,’’ he said.

“We believe in the long term this is the right thing for us and the family.” 

Mr Tayler discussed with his children what being the ALP candidate meant, and they understood that “dad wants to be the government”. 

“Dad would love to be the government,” Mr Tayler smiled. 

Their knowledge of the role of state member was built on his roles as a police officer. 

“Instead of policing the law, dad wants to go and help make some new ones,” he said.