Dennis Young (Australian politician)

Dennis Charles Young AM (born 7 August 1947) is an Australian politician and a harm reduction campaigner. He was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1974 to 1977, representing the electorate of Baroona. He has been the national executive director of harm reduction organisation Drug Arm since 1988.[1]

Dr Dennis Young

AM
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Baroona
In office
7 December 1974 – 12 November 1977
Preceded byPat Hanlon
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
Dennis Charles Young

(1947-08-07) 7 August 1947
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party
Spouse(s)Laurel Eastment
OccupationPolice officer

Early life

Young was born in Brisbane, and was educated at Kelvin Grove State School and Kelvin Grove State High School. He was a police officer before entering politics; he also worked for the Juvenile Aid Bureau for eight years.

Politics

An active member of the Liberal Party, Young served as chairman of his local branch from 1973 to 1975 and was a member of the party's state executive from 1974 to 1975.[2]

Young was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 1974 election, winning the formerly safe Labor seat of Baroona amidst the landslide Liberal-National victory that year. The seat had been vacated by retiring former Shadow Treasurer Pat Hanlon. Baroona was merged with the adjacent Brisbane electorate to form the Brisbane Central electorate at the 1977 election, and Brisbane MLA Harold Lowes retired after one term, allowing Young to contest the new seat; however, he was defeated by Labor candidate and former Brisbane MLA Brian Davis.[2]

Later life

Young returned to his career as a police officer after his election defeat. In 1988, however, he was appointed as the national director of harm reduction organisation Drug Arm.[1] He is frequently cited in the media on drug-related issues in this capacity; his expertise in this area has also seen him serve as president of the Queensland Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies and as a member of the Australian National Council on Drugs.[3][4]

He was diagnosed with fatty liver disease in August 2005, which doctors attributed to obesity. He subsequently had a liver transplant in May 2006.[5]

References
  1. "Board of Directors". Drug Arm. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  3. Young, Dennis (30 March 2009). "Drugs war still to be won". The Courier-Mail.
  4. "Howard announces new make-up of drug council". Australian Associated Press. 20 March 2001.
  5. Miles, Janelle (27 August 2008). "Shock diagnosis, surgery led to lifestyle change". The Courier-Mail.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by
Pat Hanlon		 Member for Baroona
1974–1977		 Abolished
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