In 1960 my grandfather Frank took a leap of faith and left his homeland of Italy for North Queensland. He saw Queensland as a land of opportunity. Over 60 years later, my family still believes Queensland is a land of opportunity. Our Government is working hard to ensure these opportunities continue today. We are delivering a Fresh Start for Queensland ...About the Premier
Hon David Crisafulli MP
Premier
Minister for Veterans
Member for Broadwater
David Crisafulli was born and raised in Ingham in North Queensland, where he learned the values of hard work, service and opportunity on his family's sugar cane farm. His grandfather arrived from Italy in 1960 and built a life from scratch, teaching the family the value of effort and aspiration. David's deep connection to his community and belief in public service were shaped by his upbringing in a tight-knit regional town.
He went to school in Ingham, working part-time at the local Coles deli during school, and in 1997, he began a Bachelor of Journalism at James Cook University in Townsville. Before graduating, he returned home as a cadet reporter with the Herbert River Express, later working across North Queensland with WIN News. In 2002, David married his wife Tegan in the Whitsundays and welcomed their two daughters shortly after in 2005 and 2007.
Frustrated by the pace of change in his community, David was elected to the Townsville City Council in 2004. He later became Deputy Mayor and played a leading role in the merger of the Townsville and Thuringowa Councils.
In 2012, David was elected to the Queensland Parliament for the seat of Mundingburra, the first LNP candidate to win the seat in a general election. He served as Minister for Local Government, where he visited every council across the state in his first year. He also led reforms in local government accountability and disaster recovery.
After leaving Parliament in 2015, David supported small businesses in telecommunications, planning and media. He relocated to the northern Gold Coast and became actively involved in local sport and charity groups.
David returned to Parliament in 2017 as the Member for Broadwater, serving as Shadow Minister for the Environment, Science and the Great Barrier Reef, and for Tourism. During this time, David worked closely with tourism operators and advocated for sustainable ecotourism projects. In 2020, David became Leader of the Opposition, and outlined his plans to deliver, a fresh start for Queensland, travelling across the State to hear from communities on issues like crime, health, housing and infrastructure.
On 26 October 2024, David led the LNP to victory at the state election and was sworn in as Premier of Queensland. He remains focused on delivering the fresh start Queenslanders voted for:
- Safety where you live
- A better lifestyle through a stronger economy
- Health services when you need them
- A plan for Queensland's future