Neither attorney nor general

John Mullan holds the unique distinction of being Queensland’s first Attorney-General who was not legally qualified.

In the preceding 60 years of Queensland’s history, the role of Attorney-General was taken by an elected member of either House who possessed legal qualifications. They also had the responsibility for pursing important cases through the courts, as well as preparing bills and legislation for presentation to the House, similar to the role of today’s Parliamentary Counsel.

Mullan was of Irish stock and a gifted orator. He also had the reputation of being a combative debater and a sprightly wit. He was proud of the fact that he ‘was neither an attorney nor a general’, and prided himself on the common touch.

He was also what journalists would call ‘good copy’. He had the habit, after making a particularly witty or scathing remark at the expense of the Opposition, of tossing his curly black hair and posturing to the Press Gallery, saying ‘did you get that one down?’

From north Queensland, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1908 in the Kidston landslide. He served two terms as a senator in the federal sphere, but returned to state politics in 1918 and continued to serve as the Member for Flinders and then Carpentaria until 1941.