David Crisafulli is an Australian politician who serves as the 41st Premier of Queensland, having assumed office in October 2024 following the Liberal National Party's victory in the state election. Born in 1979 in Ingham, North Queensland, Crisafulli grew up in a family with Italian heritage and developed strong ties to regional Queensland communities. Before entering politics, he worked as a small business owner and gained experience in local government, serving as a Townsville City Councillor from 2008 to 2012. His background in regional Queensland and business has significantly shaped his political perspective and policy priorities.
Crisafulli was first elected to the Queensland Parliament in 2012 as the Liberal National Party member for Mundingburra, a seat he has held since. During the Newman Government (2012-2015), he served as Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience, where he focused on disaster recovery efforts and local government reform. After the LNP's defeat in 2015, he became a key figure in the party's rebuilding efforts and was elected as Opposition Leader in November 2020. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has been a strong advocate for regional development, infrastructure investment, and economic growth, particularly emphasizing the importance of North Queensland in the state's future.
As Premier, Crisafulli has prioritized addressing Queensland's housing crisis, healthcare system pressures, and cost-of-living concerns. His government has committed to ambitious housing targets and healthcare reforms, while maintaining a focus on economic development and job creation. He has positioned himself as a pragmatic leader who emphasizes consultation with communities and evidence-based policy making. Crisafulli's leadership style reflects his regional background, often highlighting the need for policies that benefit both metropolitan and regional Queensland, and he has worked to present the LNP as a modern, inclusive party capable of governing for all Queenslanders.