Queensland is set to have a new premier. Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli claimed victory for the narrow election, ending Labor’s decade-long reign in the state. So who is he? Here’s what you need to know.
Throughout his campaign, Crisafulli was determined to tackle Queensland’s youth crime, promising voters “adult crime, adult time”.
When the LNP’s victory was achieved, the incoming premier said echoed his campaign message, saying “Queenslanders voted for hope over fear”.
“To the people of this great state, I’ve lived and I’ve worked at both ends of it, and I love every inch of it,” he said.
“Of the last 12 general elections in this state, we’ve only won one on election night. And tonight we get to celebrate the biggest achievement we’ve had in over a decade.
“Elections are about people and it’s about doing good for those who don’t have a voice. What history will show was that tonight was the turning point of the youth crime crisis.
“By Christmas, ‘adult crime, adult time’ will be law.”
Who is David Crisafulli?
Prior to leading the LNP to victory, Crisafulli worked as a journalist before politics in his 20s, serving as a councillor and then a deputy mayor in Townsville.
According to ABC News, the 45-year-old went further into state politics in 2012 for the seat of Mundingbutta following the LNP’s victory led by Campbell Newman.
Newman’s victory resulted in Crisafulli’s immediate instalment into Cabinet where he served as a local government minister. However, he lost his seat in 2015 when Labor’s Annastacia Palaszczuk won and became Queensland’s premier.
Years later — after he moved his family to the Gold Coast — Crisafulli eventually became the leader of the LNP following the party’s third straight election loss in 2020.
Thank you, Queensland.
— David Crisafulli (@DavidCrisafulli) October 26, 2024
A Fresh Start begins now. pic.twitter.com/D1sKFGcexw
Following his win, Crisafulli is pushing for harsher laws on youth crime by Christmas.
“My commitment to every one of you viewers watching today is we will not go to Christmas with the same laws that we’ve got,” Crisafulli said, per 9News.
“We will have adult crime, adult time, and we’re also going to do early intervention and give kids hope and the ability to turn their life around.
“We’re not going to Christmas with the same set of laws.”
Following his win, Crisafulli has also vowed to keep the former government’s 50 cent transport fares. However, he has vowed to scrap the Path To Treaty process and the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro scheme.
ABC News reported that Crisafulli “dodged questions” regarding his stance on abortion as he had previously voted against laws that decriminalised the medical procedure in 2018. In the final debate of the campaign, the new premier said he supported a woman’s right to choose.
Image source: X
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