James Burke (Australian politician)

James Burke (17 September 1866 – 13 August 1952) was an Australian politician. He served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Ipswich from 1915 to 1926, and Oxley from 1926 to 1929.

Burke was born in Ipswich, Queensland, to parents Michael Burke and Mary, née Costello. Prior to entering politics, he was a bootmaker. He was a prominent figure in the Australian Labor Party (ALP) within Queensland.

During his time in parliament, Burke served in various roles, including as Secretary for Public Instruction (Minister for Education) from 1919 to 1924, and as Secretary for Agriculture and Stock (Minister for Agriculture) from 1924 to 1929. His portfolios reflected the importance of education and agriculture to Queensland's economy during the early 20th century.

Burke lost his seat in the 1929 election. He died in Brisbane in 1952.