David Hamill

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David Hamill born at Ipswich, Queensland on 18th September 1957, is a former Queensland ALP politician, who served in a number of positions including Minister for Transport and Treasurer. He was elected to the Queensland Parliament as member for Ipswich in 1983 and held the seat until 2001.

Married to Patricia Evatt a niece of Dr H V Evatt, the former High Court Judge and Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party, they have four children. The Queensland Rhodes Scholar for queensland in 1979. He took a BA(Hons)from Queenslnd University and then an MA from Oxford. Prior to his election he was a lecturer/tutor in political science at the University of Queensland and later a research officer with the later Federal leader of the ALP and Governor General Bill Hayden.

He was President of the Ipswich Electorate Executive 1982-89. State President, Young Labor, 1978; President Oxley Federal Divisional Executive 1984-88; delegate to various Committees, State Council, State Conference and national Conference.

Elected on 22nd October 1983 as the State Member for Ipswich following the retirement of Sir Llew Edwards. In Opposition between 1983 to 1989 he was variously Opposition Spokesperson on Family Services, Youth and Education.

From December 1989 until February 1996 he was a member of the Goss Labor Cabinet, initially as Minister for Transport, where he undertook fundamental reform of the rail system, and then as Minister for Education. He served as Shadow Treasurer between 1996 and 1998, before becoming Treasurer with the election of the Beattie Labor government. He held this position until 2001. In his role as Treasurer he represented Queensland in negotiations leading to the introduction of the [Goods and Services Tax] in Australia.

After retiring from Parliament, Hamill undertook a PhD degree at the University of Queensland, (completing it in record time) and published his research as a book The impact of the new tax system on Australian Federalism. He is also a director of several corporations and NGOs including Babcock and Brown and the Queensland Division of the Australian Red Cross.

Preceded by Joan Sheldon

Treasurer of Queensland 1998–2001

Succeeded by Terry Mackenroth