Brisbane City Council infrastructure chair Ryan Murphy says his prostate cancer diagnosis fundamentally changed the way he approaches public office, prompting him to focus on delivering meaningful outcomes rather than worrying about future elections.

In an interview with Brisbane Times for its CityChats series, Murphy reflected on entering politics after deciding he could do a better job than the long-serving councillor he challenged, eventually winning the seat and remaining in local government for about 14 years.

He described council as the most rewarding level of government because it allows politicians to work directly with residents and solve practical community problems.

Murphy also spoke about his reputation for humour, particularly his annual April Fools’ Day posts, saying politicians should take their responsibilities seriously but not themselves.

Discussing his cancer journey, he explained that the diagnosis made him realise life is unpredictable and motivated him to accelerate infrastructure improvements across Brisbane.

He highlighted priorities including better road maintenance, pothole repairs, tree management, improved customer communication, greater use of artificial intelligence and preparing the city’s infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.

Murphy also advocated for expanding Brisbane Metro services before 2032, arguing they offer a practical and cost-effective way to improve public transport.

Beyond infrastructure, he used the interview to encourage greater awareness of prostate cancer, noting that many men remain unaware of screening options or mistakenly believe it only affects older people.He welcomed the prospect of lower screening ages and stressed that early detection through a simple blood test had likely saved his life.

Murphy said sharing his own experience had encouraged many men he knows to seek testing, while also ending the interview on a light-hearted note by joking that he is sometimes mistaken for fellow Queensland politician Sam O’Connor rather than television producer Ryan Murphy.