Jeremy David Hanson, CSC, MLA (born 18 February 1967) is a former Australian Army officer and is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly as one of seven MLAs for the Molonglo electorate at the 2008 election.[2][3] He was the Opposition Leader in the ACT, as well as Shadow Minister for Health, Police, Corrections and Indigenous Affairs, between February 2013 and October 2016.[4][5] In 2016, following a redistricting of the ACT's electorates and an expansion in size of the Legislative Assembly, he was elected as one of five MLAs for the new electorate of Murrumbidgee.
Following the resignation of fellow Murrumbidgee Liberal MLA, Giulia Jones, Hanson was elected as Deputy Leader of the Canberra Liberals in February 2022. [6] On 4 December 2023, Hanson was dumped as deputy leader and replaced by Leanne Castley.[7]
Military career
The son of a Royal Air Force officer who was posted to Canberra in 1979, Hanson completed his schooling in Queensland and joined the Australian Army in 1986; graduating from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1987.[4] He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of New England and a master's degree in Management and Defence Studies from the University of Canberra. Before his election, Hanson served for 22 years in the Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.[8]
Hanson has been described as having conservative views, and is a member of the Right faction of the Liberal Party.[11] Hanson has been considered a major figure in modern conservatism in Canberra, along with former party president John Cziesla and former party leader and former Senator Zed Seselja.[12] have claimed that Hanson's ousting as the Canberra Liberals' deputy leader was influenced by a growing rejection of social conservatism and right-wing populism in the party in favour of a more Moderate approach.[7]
Despite being aligned with the party's conservative wing, Hanson supports same-sex marriage.[13]
Hanson is married to Fleur, and they live in Holder with sons William (from Hanson's first marriage) and Robbie. Hanson has dual British-Australian citizenship.[15]
