Who’s Who in 22, Government Gurus: Yvette D’Ath

As Health Minister, State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath has helped Queensland navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 as the community transitioned to ‘living with COVID’.

This year, she also announced a $1.06 billion expansion of Redcliffe Hospital, in addition to $10 million being spent on creating a paediatric emergency department at the hospital.

About Yvette D’Ath

Ms D’Ath entered politics when she was elected the Federal Member for Petrie, serving in the Australian Parliament from 2007 until 2013.

She was elected as the State Member for Redcliffe during a by-election in 2014 and has subsequently held the position following general elections in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

The former Redcliffe State High School student started full-time work at the age of 15 years, holding clerical and hospitality positions.

Realising the value of education, Ms D’Ath put herself through night school, while working and raising a family.

She graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Laws, attained a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University in Canberra and was admitted as a lawyer in 2006.

She worked for the Australian Workers’ Union before entering politics.

After her election as the State Member for Redcliffe in 2014, she served as shadow Minister for Education and Training; Disability Services; Science, IT and Innovation and later become Shadow Attorney-General.

Following Labor’s State Election win in 2015, Ms D’Ath was appointed Queensland’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Training and Skills.

After her 2017 State Election win, she was asked by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to continue as Queensland’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and also take on the role as Leader of the House, managing the legislative program of the Government.

She was Queensland’s longest-serving continuous Attorney-General since WWII.

Her appointment as Health and Ambulance Services Minister happened after the 2020 State Election. Ms D’Ath continues to serve as the Leader of the House in the Queensland Parliament.

She was a key player in securing the rail line to Redcliffe, advocating for the project as both Federal and State Member. It opened in 2016.

Ms D’Ath is a proud peninsula local, having raised her two children in the area and being involved with local sporting clubs and schools as they grew.

She is also a passionate Redcliffe Dolphins rugby league club fan, regularly seen cheering at home games and eagerly awaiting their entry to the NRL in 2023.