Brian Austin

Who is Brian Austin?

Brian Douglas Austin was a Queensland politician and Minister of Health who represented the state seat of Wavell for the Liberal Party and then for the National Party. Austin switched to the National Party in 1983 after Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen lobbied several Liberals to cross the floor, thus enabling the National Party to form government with a very slim majority, as prior to the swap the Nationals were one seat short of governing in their own right. At the 1986 Queensland state election, Austin became the first MP for the new Queensland electorate of Nicklin.

In 1987, Austin was one of three ministers who told Governor Walter Campbell that Petersen no longer had enough support to govern. This was a key event in the caucus coup that saw Bjelke-Petersen deposed as premier later that year.

Austin was subsequently implicated in the Fitzgerald Inquiry and was forced to retire in 1989.

Austin was convicted on 25 counts of misappropriating public funds, regarding $8700 spent on private accommodation, travel and meals, and was sentenced to 15 months' jail.