Ned Hanlon

Who was Ned Hanlon?

Edward Michael Hanlon was an Australian politician, who 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. Between 1915 and 1919 Hanlon served in 9 RQR.

He entered parliament in 1926, representing the Labor Party as member for Ithaca. After two decades and several cabinet portfolios, 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, and was succeeded by Vince Gair, the last leader of the state Labor Party administration which had been in power continuously ever since 1932. He was buried in Toowong Cemetery.