Thomas Dunstan

Thomas Dunstan (20 April 1873 – 19 June 1954) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Early life Dunstan was born at Thames, New Zealand, the son of Nicholas John Dunstan and his wife Esther Mary Ann (née Connon). He was educated at Thames State School and the One Mile State School in Gympie. On leaving School he was an apprentice with The Gympie Times newspaper before joining the Gympie Truth as a reporter, secretary, and canvasser. In 1901, he was promoted to editor-manager of the Truth and held this position for the next 41 years and in 1943 was the editor of the Labor Leader. and together they had five sons and two daughters. Dunstan died at Gympie in June 1954

Public life Dunstan, a member of the Labor Party, won the seat of Gympie in 1915, defeating the Ministerial candidate and sitting member, George Mackay.

He contested Gympie at the 1932 state elections once again losing to Tozer. In 1935 however, Dunstan won back the seat and went on to represent it until it was abolished in 1950. He then contested and won the new electorate of Nash, and holding it until he retired from politics three years later at 80 years of age.

During his parliamentary career he held the following roles: Temporary Chairman of Committees 1920–1924 Temporary Chairman of Committees 1939–1949 Secretary for Public Lands 1925–1929 Minister without Office 1925–1925