David Crisafulli
{{Short description|Premier of Queensland since 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = David Crisafulli
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = David Crisafulli 2024.jpg
| office = 41st Premier of Queensland
| monarch = Charles III
| governor = Jeannette Young
| term_start = 28 October 2024
| term_end =
| deputy = Jarrod Bleijie
| predecessor = Steven Miles
| successor =
| office1 = Leader of the Opposition in Queensland
| term_start1 = 12 November 2020
| term_end1 = 28 October 2024
| deputy1 = David Janetzki
Jarrod Bleijie
| predecessor1 = Deb Frecklington
| successor1 = Steven Miles
| office2 = Leader of the Liberal National Party
| term_start2 = 12 November 2020
| term_end2 =
| deputy2 = David Janetzki
Jarrod Bleijie
| predecessor2 = Deb Frecklington
| office6 = Minister for Local Government
| premier6 = Campbell Newman
| term_start6 = 3 April 2012
| term_end6 = 13 February 2015
| predecessor6 = Paul Lucas
| successor6 = Jackie Trad
| office7 = Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Broadwater
| term_start7 = 25 November 2017
| predecessor7 = Verity Barton
| successor7 =
| office8 = Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mundingburra
| term_start8 = 24 March 2012
| term_end8 = 31 January 2015
| predecessor8 = Lindy Nelson-Carr
| successor8 = Coralee O'Rourke
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|4|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ingham, Queensland, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Liberal National
| spouse = Tegan Crisafulli
| children = 2
| residence = Hope Island, Queensland
| profession =
| signature =
| footnotes =
| website = {{URL|https://dclnp.org.au/}}
| status = Incumbent
}}
David Frank Crisafulli ({{IPAc-en|,|k|r|ɪ|s|ə|'|f|ʊ|l|i}}; born 14 April 1979) is an Australian politician currently serving as the 41st Premier of Queensland since 28 October 2024 and leader of the Liberal National Party (LNP) since 12 November 2020. He has been the member of the Legislative Assembly for Broadwater since 2017 when he ousted the sitting member, Verity Barton, during pre-selection. He was the member for Mundingburra from 2012 to 2015, holding ministerial portfolios in the Newman government.
Crisafulli led the LNP into the 2024 Queensland state election. With the LNP winning a majority in the Queensland Parliament,{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-26/queensland-election-live-updates-results-2024/104505940|first1=Jessica|last1=Black|first2=Claudia|last2=Williams|first3=Julius|last3=Dennis|first4=Nicholas|last4=McElroy|title=Live updates: LNP projected to win Queensland election, defeating Labor for the first time in almost a decade|website=ABC News|date=26 October 2024|access-date=26 October 2024}} he became the 41st Premier of Queensland on 28 October 2024.{{cite web |title=The Governor and Professor Nimmo received the call of Premier-elect Mr David Crisafulli MP |url=https://x.com/QldGovernor/status/1850412047609258078?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet |website=X |publisher=Governor of Queensland |access-date=27 October 2024}} Crisafulli is the first Premier to have Italian heritage.
Early life and career
Crisafulli was born on 14 April 1979 in Ingham, Queensland.{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6793503/david-crisafullis-rise-from-journo-to-mp/|title=David Crisafulli's rise from journo to MP|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=15 June 2020|first=Darren|last=Cartwright|access-date=26 April 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.jcu.edu.au/outstanding-alumni/search/alumni/2010/hon-david-crisafulli|title=Hon David Crisafulli|publisher=James Cook University Australia|access-date=26 April 2024}} He is one of two children born to Karen and Antonino "Tony" Crisafulli; his parents are both of Italian origin. His father's family originates from the village of Novara di Sicilia in Sicily, Italy. His paternal grandfather Francesco Crisafulli immigrated to Australia in 1960 to work as a cane-cutter and later established his own sugarcane farm on the Herbert River.{{cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/qweekend/david-crisafullis-bold-prediction-for-the-next-qld-election-im-going-to-win-big/news-story/ae847a0add8d4047e9e6b0817a50bbc1|title='I'm going to win big': Crisafulli's bold plan to defeat Premier|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=12 February 2021|first=Frances|last=Whiting|access-date=26 April 2024}}
Crisafulli was raised in Ingham, where he attended Canossa Primary School and Gilroy Santa Maria College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from James Cook University in Townsville in 2000. While at university he also worked full-time as a cadet reporter at the Herbert River Express.
In 2000, Crisafulli moved into television, becoming a journalist with WIN News in Townsville, and was made chief of staff of the Townsville newsroom in 2002.{{cn|date=November 2024}} During that time, he also worked as a correspondent for The Australian and Sunday Mail newspapers, did weekly work for DMG Regional Radio as a newsreader, and lectured in journalism at James Cook University.{{cn|date=November 2024}}
Politics
In 2003, Crisafulli was appointed a ministerial media advisor to the then Howard government Minister and Liberal Senator for Queensland, Ian Macdonald. In 2004, Crisafulli successfully ran for what was then the 100% Labor Party-controlled Townsville City Council, on a conservative platform. He became the youngest person ever elected to the council.{{cite web |title=Reshaping the Centre-Right in Queensland: Kerry O'Brien in conversation with David Crisafulli |url=https://enlighten.griffith.edu.au/david-crisafulli/ |publisher=Griffith University |date=June 2023}} In 2008, when the Townsville and Thuringowa councils were merged, he stood as a candidate at the first election for the enlarged council.{{cite web |title='Team Tyrell' told to remove election billboard |url=https://abc.net.au/news/2008-01-25/team-tyrell-told-to-remove-election-billboard/1023136 |publisher=ABC News |date=25 January 2008}} Crisafulli made a deal with Les Tyrell, the former mayor of Thuringowa, to run in partnership for the mayor and deputy mayor positions; Tyrell won election as mayor and Crisafulli as deputy mayor.{{cite web |title=David Crisafulli elected LNP Leader and David Janetzki Deputy Leader |url=https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/7010664/david-crisafulli-to-lead-the-lnp/ |publisher=North-West Sar |date=12 November 2020}} He served as deputy mayor until his resignation in 2012 to run for a seat in the Queensland Parliament. During his second term on Council, he became the chairman of the Townsville City Council Planning Committee.
In the 2012 Queensland state election, Crisafulli was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in the seat of Mundingburra, as a member of the Liberal National party.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/current/list/bio?member=Crisafulli+David|title=Member Biography - Mr David Crisafulli|publisher=Parliament of Queensland|access-date=4 July 2012}} He was appointed the Minister for Local Government in the new Newman government. In February 2013, his role was expanded when he became Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience."Premier announces new Ministry". Department of Premier and Cabinet. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012. He re-contested Mundingburra at the 2015 Queensland state election but was defeated by the Labor candidate Coralee O'Rourke.{{Cite QldMLA|access-date=9 November 2017}}
Following his 2015 election loss, Crisafulli and his family relocated to Hope Island on Queensland's Gold Coast.{{Cite news|url=http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland-state-election-2015/former-minister-david-crisafulli-has-moved-to-the-gold-coast-to-relaunch-his-political-career/news-story/bf2f678baae3e231ca9e2a7bd1904b2e|title=Former minister David Crisafulli has moved to the Gold Coast to relaunch his political career|last1=Houghton|first1=Jack|date=26 October 2015|work=Gold Coast Bulletin|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322065630/http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland-state-election-2015/former-minister-david-crisafulli-has-moved-to-the-gold-coast-to-relaunch-his-political-career/news-story/bf2f678baae3e231ca9e2a7bd1904b2e|archive-date=22 March 2016|url-status=live|last2=Potts|first2=Andrew}} He subsequently ran a small business giving advice about dealing with government and business development opportunities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}}
In May 2017, he defeated incumbent Broadwater MP Verity Barton for LNP preselection to contest the 2017 election,{{cite news | url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/newman-minister-david-crisafulli-wins-preselection-over-verity-barton-20170528-gwer3h.html | title=Newman minister David Crisafulli wins pre-selection over Verity Barton | work=Brisbane Times | date=28 May 2017 | access-date=26 November 2017}} and subsequently won the Broadwater seat.{{cite news | url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/11/25/23/48/queensland-election-no-result-until-preferences-and-pre-poll-votes-counted | title=Queensland election: Winners and losers | work=9 News | date=26 November 2017 | access-date=26 November 2017}} In December 2017, after the election of Deb Frecklington as Leader of the Opposition, Crisafulli was appointed the Shadow Minister for Environment, Science and the Great Barrier Reef, and Shadow Minister for Tourism.
On 12 November 2020, Crisafulli became Leader of the Opposition in Queensland, after the Liberal National Party elected him as party leader following the resignation of Deb Frecklington.{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Lydia |title=LNP elects new leader and deputy while recount starts in two seats |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/lnp-elects-new-leader-and-deputy-while-recount-starts-in-two-seats-20201112-p56dyw.html |access-date=12 November 2020 |work=Brisbane Times |date=12 November 2020 |language=en}}
Premier of Queensland (2024–present)
{{Main article|Premiership of David Crisafulli|}}
Crisafulli led the LNP into the 2024 Queensland state election. The LNP gained a 51 seat majority in the Queensland Parliament, and he subsequently became the 41st Premier of Queensland.
Crisafulli was sworn in as Queensland's 41st Premier by Governor Jeannette Young on 28 October, alongside his deputy Jarrod Bleijie.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-27 |title=David Crisafulli sworn in as Queensland premier — as it happened |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-28/david-crisafulli-premier-queensland-election-government-house/104524048 |access-date=2024-11-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The pair formed an interim ministry, with the full ministry sworn in later that week.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-01 |title=Queensland's new cabinet has been unveiled. Here's who David Crisafulli has chosen for each portfolio |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-01/qld-queensland-government-cabinet/104537852 |access-date=2024-11-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Political views
Crisafulli describes his political views as centrist{{cite interview |last=Crisafulli |first=David |subject-link=David Crisafulli |interviewer=Kerry O'Brien |title=Reshaping the Centre-Right in Queensland |publisher=Griffith University |location=Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, Queensland |date=May 31, 2023 |url=https://enlighten.griffith.edu.au/david-crisafulli/ |quote=I'm someone who grew up in regional Queensland who saw the value of hard work and agriculture and I grew up in a conservative household, but I probably drift a little further to becoming moderate as I get older, which is maybe in contrast to how others go. I'm a centrist, I'm a political centrist. I'm not driven by hard ideologies on either the left or the right. I'm driven by making sure that people who go to work can do so and build a business free from the regulation of government. I'm driven to make sure that people who are disadvantaged can be able to get access to a health system to be able to lift their lot in life. I do believe in government conducting themselves with integrity and decency. (34min 34sec)}} and decentralist.{{cite interview |last=Crisafulli |first=David |subject-link=David Crisafulli |interviewer=Kerry O'Brien |title=Reshaping the Centre-Right in Queensland |publisher=Griffith University |location=Home of the Arts, Gold Coast, Queensland |date=May 31, 2023 |url=https://enlighten.griffith.edu.au/david-crisafulli/ |quote=Handing control back to the members, ensuring that power was decentralised, which has been my philosophy. It was my philosophy as a minister to hand power back from my desk as Local Government Minister back to Councils. I am a decentralist at my heart. (21min 33sec)}}
Crisafulli opposes allowing trans women to compete against cisgender women in sport and voted for an unsuccessful bill tabled by Katter's Australian Party (KAP) leader Robbie Katter that sought to ban trans women from playing women's sports in Queensland.{{cite web | url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/queensland-lnp-silently-backs-dog-whistle-motion-on-trans-sport-20220512-p5akpj.html | title=LNP backs 'dog whistle' motion on trans sport after silent party vote | date=12 May 2022 }}
Crisafulli personally opposed the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but decided not to campaign against it and members of the LNP were given a free vote on the issue.{{cite web | url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/queensland-lnp-leader-to-vote-against-indigenous-voice-20230531-p5dcu7.html | title=Queensland LNP leader to vote against Indigenous Voice | date=31 May 2023 }}
Crisafulli has said, if he is elected as premier, he would not roll back Indigenous treaty legislation. This was despite facing pressure from the LNP grassroots to do so.{{Cite news |title=LNP leader under pressure after supporting treaty laws |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/lnp-leader-under-pressure-after-backing-indigenous-treaty-laws/news-story/5c2b80db0a4b72f789a0da46a34eed95 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-08-31}}{{Cite news |title=LNP downplays Indigenous treaty backing after revolt |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/lnp-downplays-indigenous-treaty-backing-after-grassroot-revolt/news-story/2cad4db406ebfeed41d6fe97decb2e90 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-08-31}} However, on 19 October 2023, a few days after the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum Crisafulli announced the LNP will be dropping its support for Treaty.{{Cite news |last1=Gillespie |first1=Eden |last2=Smee |first2=Ben |date=2023-10-18 |title=Queensland LNP abandons support for treaty with First Nations people |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/19/queensland-lnp-abandons-support-for-treaty-with-first-nations-people |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=2023-10-18 |title=Queensland opposition backflips on support for state's Path to a Treaty.|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-19/david-crisafulli-backflips-on-path-to-treaty-support-queensland/102984166 |access-date=2024-02-26 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{cite news |work=The Australian |url-status=live |archive-date=18 October 2023 |access-date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231018094740/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/queensland-lnp-flips-on-support-for-indigenous-treaty/news-story/74219eafa2f25e58befb099516381851?amp&nk=91c17c2ce0acfd9b343ec54198fe27fd-1697622469 |first1=Lydia |last1=Lynch |last2=McKenna |first2=Michael |date=18 October 2023 |title=Queensland LNP flips on support for Indigenous treaty |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/queensland-lnp-flips-on-support-for-indigenous-treaty/news-story/74219eafa2f25e58befb099516381851}}
Crisafulli opposed the Termination of Pregnancy Bill 2018, which decriminalised abortion in Queensland, and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021, which legalised voluntary assisted dying. Both Bills were passed in conscience votes (50–41 and 60–29 respectively).{{Cite news |date=2018-10-17 |title=Abortion no longer a crime in Queensland after historic vote |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-17/abortion-legal-in-queensland-after-historic-vote/10382538 |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Caldwell |first=Matt Dennien, Felicity |date=2021-09-16 |title=How every MP voted on Queensland's voluntary assisted dying bill |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/how-every-mp-voted-on-queensland-s-voluntary-assisted-dying-bill-20210914-p58rf2.html |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Brisbane Times |language=en}} During the 2024 election campaign, he stated he supported a "woman's right to choose" and noted that six years had passed since the bill was voted on.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-23 |title=Queensland opposition leader reveals he believes in a 'woman's right to choose' ahead of state election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-23/david-crisafulli-abortion-right-to-choose-queensland-election/104506014 |access-date=2024-10-26 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
After becoming Premier, Crisafulli banned discussions and debate on abortion in parliament for four years.{{cite news|date=2024-12-14|title=David Crisafulli puts stop to abortion debate with 'highly unusual' gag on parliament|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-14/david-crisafulli-abortion-termination-of-pregnancy-act-lnp-labor/104723678|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124095910/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-14/david-crisafulli-abortion-termination-of-pregnancy-act-lnp-labor/104723678|url-status=live|archive-date=24 January 2025|access-date=15 January 2025|first=Jack|last=McKay|work=ABC News}}
Crisafulli is a skeptic of nuclear energy, despite the federal opposition Coalition's affirmative stance towards modular nuclear reactors.{{cite news |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/nuclear-power-plebiscite-peter-dutton-david-crisafulli/104532888 |access-date=12 March 2025 |archive-date=23 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223182324/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-30/nuclear-power-plebiscite-peter-dutton-david-crisafulli/104532888 |title=Pushing nuclear power in Queensland would be 'hugely messy' for a future Dutton government, constitutional law experts say |date=30 October 2024 |url-status=live |first=Matt |last=Eaton}}
Personal life
Crisafulli lives in Hope Island with his wife Tegan and their two children. He owns a cane farm near Ingham.{{cite news |last1=Mark |first1=Ludlow |title=David who? Crisafulli 'hungry' for Queensland's top job |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/david-who-crisafulli-hungry-for-queensland-s-top-job-20230707-p5dmh8 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=7 July 2023 |language=en}} He is a supporter of the North Queensland Cowboys rugby league club.
References
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External links
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{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Opposition in Queensland|years=2020–2024}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Premier of Queensland|years=2024–present}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member for Broadwater|years=2017–present}}
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{{s-bef|before=Deb Frecklington}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Liberal National Party|years=2020–present}}
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{{Premiers of Queensland}}
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Category:Australian monarchists
Category:Australian politicians of Italian descent
Category:Liberal National Party of Queensland politicians
Category:Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Category:21st-century Australian politicians