Mick de Brenni
A Queensland politician focused on housing policy and infrastructure, serving as a senior minister and manager of opposition business.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Springwood·Birthday: February 8·Generation X
Biography
Mick de Brenni's political career is rooted in the practical concerns of community and construction. Entering the Queensland Parliament as the member for Springwood, he quickly established himself as a minister focused on tangible outcomes, particularly in the portfolios of Housing, Public Works, and Digital Technology. His tenure was marked by a drive to increase social housing stock and oversee major infrastructure projects, framing his work around job creation and community resilience. As the Manager of Opposition Business, he brings a disciplined, strategic approach to parliamentary debate, known for his direct communication style. De Brenni's path from union organizer to cabinet minister reflects a consistent thread: a focus on the rights of workers and the responsibility of government to provide essential services and shelter.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mick was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Mick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Queensland's Minister for Housing and Public Works, launching significant social housing investment programs.
- Held the portfolio of Minister for Digital Technology, overseeing the state's digital transformation initiatives.
- Appointed as the Manager of Opposition Business in the Queensland Legislative Assembly following a change of government.
- Elected as the Member for Springwood, representing the district in parliament.
Did You Know?
Before politics, he was a state secretary for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
He is a passionate advocate for renewable energy and sustainable building practices.
De Brenni is a fan of rugby league and supports the Brisbane Broncos.
“Good housing policy is about building roofs over heads and futures in communities.”
