Ned Hanlon (politician)

Edward Michael Hanlon (1 October 1887 – 15 January 1952), known as Ned, was an Australian politician and soldier, who was Premier of Queensland from 1946 until his death in 1952.

The Honourable Ned Hanlon
26th Premier of Queensland Elections: 1947, 1950
In office 7 March 1946 – 15 January 1952
Monarch	George VI
Governor	Leslie Wilson John Lavarack
Deputy	Ted Walsh Vince Gair
Preceded by	Frank Cooper
Succeeded by	Vince Gair
12th Deputy Premier of Queensland
In office 16 September 1942 – 7 March 1946
Premier	Frank Cooper
Preceded by	Frank Cooper
Succeeded by	Ted Walsh
Party leadership positions Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland In office 7 March 1946 – 15 January 1952 Deputy Ted Walsh Vince Gair Preceded by Frank Cooper Succeeded by Vince Gair Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland In office 16 September 1942 – 7 March 1946 Preceded by Frank Cooper Succeeded by Jack Duggan
Cabinet posts Chief Secretary In office 7 March 1946 – 17 January 1952 Preceded by Frank Cooper Succeeded by Vince Gair 30th Treasurer of Queensland In office 27 April 1944 – 7 March 1946 Premier Frank Cooper Preceded by Frank Cooper Succeeded by James Larcombe Secretary for Health and Home Affairs In office 21 May 1935 – 27 April 1944 Premier William Forgan Smith Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Tom Foley Home Secretary In office 18 June 1932 – 21 May 1935 Premier William Forgan Smith Preceded by Jens Peterson Succeeded by Position abolished
Electorate Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Ithaca In office 8 May 1926 – 15 January 1952 Preceded by John Gilday Succeeded by Leonard Eastment
Personal details
Born	Edward Michael Hanlon (1887-10-01)1 October 1887 Paddington, Colony of Queensland, British Empire
Died	15 January 1952(1952-01-15) (aged 64) Mater Private Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Cause of death	Bronchial pneumonia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Carver ​ ​ (m. 1922; death 1946)​
Children	4; including Pat Hanlon
Education	Petrie Terrace Boys' School
Alma mater	Brisbane Technical College
Occupation	Grocer Soldier Politician
Military service
Nickname(s)	Digger Sergeant
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1915–1919
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	9th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force
Battles/wars	World War I

Hanlon was born in Brisbane in the Colony of Queensland to Irish immigrant parents.[1] He lived there 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 the 9th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division of the Australian Imperial Force, whose traditions and battle honours are proudly carried by the modern 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment. He served under Captain Cec Carroll during the war; in 1934 Hanlon (then Minister for Home Affairs) would appoint Carroll as the Queensland Police Commissioner.[2]

In 1926 Queensland state election, Hanlon was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 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.

On June 17 1951, while in Canberra, Hanlon contracted bronchial pneumonia and spent three weeks in hospital before returning to Queensland on July 5. On 8 August, Hanlon was admitted to the Mater private hospital and received oxygen. After surviving, doctors warned that Hanlon would be ill for a long period of time. Following this, he took six months' leave of absence from the premiership. In October, it appeared that Hanlon was well enough to leave the hospital. However, suffering another setback, Hanlon remained in hopital until his death in January 1952.[3][4]

After his death in January 1952, he was succeeded by Vince Gair, the last leader of the state Labor Party administration which had been in power continuously ever since 1932.

Hanlon was accorded a State funeral[5] which took place from St Stephen's Cathedral to the Toowong Cemetery.[6][7]