Ned Hanlon (politician)

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Edward Michael "Ned" Hanlon (1887-1952), was Premier of Queensland from 1946 to 1952.

Hanlon was born in Brisbane, where he lived throughout his life. After leaving school, he worked in the railways, and soon became a union official. In the 1912 Brisbane General Strike he played a prominent part as a militant.

He entered parliament in 1926, representing the Labor Party as member for Ithaca. After two decades and several cabinet portfolios (notably the Health Ministry, where he worked in tandem with doctor and administrator Sir Raphael Cilento), he became Queensland's Premier, once the septuagenarian Frank Cooper had retired.

Over the years Hanlon's outlook mellowed, and he shifted to the political right. Having begun as a union militant, he ended up, as Premier, sending the police to suppress union demonstrations during the 1948 Queensland Railway strike. He died in office (January 1952), and was succeeded by Vince Gair, the last leader of the state Labor Party administration which had been in power continuously ever since 1932.

Preceded by
Frank Cooper
Premier of Queensland
1946-1952
Succeeded by
Vince Gair