Premier and Minister for Veterans The Honourable David Crisafulli

04 August 2026

MEDIA STATEMENT: Queensland’s 28th Governor announced as Justice Thomas Bradley

• His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of the Honourable Justice Thomas Bradley as the 28th Governor of Queensland. 
• Justice Bradley was elevated to the Court of Appeal in March 2025, after serving as a Supreme Court Judge since 2018.
• Justice Bradley will be formally sworn in on November 1, 2026. 

Premier David Crisafulli has today announced Queensland’s 28th Governor will be Justice Thomas Bradley, current Court of Appeal Judge. 

The announcement follows His Majesty The King’s approval of the recommendation of the Premier for the appointment of Justice Bradley. 

The Honourable Justice Thomas Bradley will succeed Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM on November 1 when he will be sworn in.  

Justice Bradley has served on Queensland’s Court of Appeal since March 2025 and as a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court from December 2018, he has been a member of the Supreme Court Library Legal Heritage Subcommittee since 2013. 

Justice Bradley has also served in a number of community leadership roles, including as Chair of the Brisbane Festival Giving Committee, as an ambassador for the Pinnacle Foundation and on the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Committee.  

Premier David Crisafulli said Justice Bradley would proudly serve Queensland as the 28th Governor. 

“Justice Bradley has had a distinguished legal career in service of our State and will bring experience and honour to his appointment as Queensland’s Governor,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“Born in Far North Queensland, Justice Bradley understands the unique challenges of our decentralised State and will help unify Queenslanders under our common experiences. 

“As he has during his career, he will help shine a light on the important work of Queenslanders and communities.  

“Queensland thanks Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Young for her years of service to our State.” 

The Honourable Justice Thomas Bradley said it was an honour to be appointed to serve as Queensland’s 28th Governor. 

“It is a tremendous honour to serve in this office.  I look forward to meeting as many Queenslanders as possible across our State,” Justice Bradley said.   

“Advocacy for and patronage of a diverse range of Queensland groups is integral to the role and I share the goals of my predecessors to carry out constitutional responsibilities with dignity, fairness, and a commitment to the rule of law.   

“I call to mind all we have in common as Queenslanders: the joy we share in each other’s successes and the comfort we give in each other’s sorrows.  I am reminded that, in communities large and small, we are part of a common endeavour.” 

JUSTICE BRADLEY’S BIOGRAPHY 

Justice Bradley was born in Cairns, Queensland and educated at St Bernard’s School and Clairvaux College. Justice Bradley graduated from The University of Queensland—Bachelor of Laws and holds a Bar Practice Certificate.   

On 31 July 2000 Justice Bradley was admitted as a barrister and commenced private practice at the Bar in Brisbane. On 14 November 2013 his Honour was appointed Queen’s Counsel.   

His Honour has been a member of the Supreme Court Library Legal Heritage Subcommittee since 2013. 

Prior to appointment as a judge, Justice Bradley was a member of the practitioner panel of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, having served earlier as a sessional member of QCAT (2009–2011) and of the Commercial & Consumer Tribunal (2004–09).  

Justice Bradley was a member of the Bar Council (2016–18) and treasurer of the Bar Association of Queensland (2017–18). His Honour was a deputy chair of the Competition & Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia Business Law Section (2011–14).  

Justice Bradley is chair of the Brisbane Festival Giving Committee and chair of the Brisbane Writers Festival. He is an ambassador for the Pinnacle Foundation. His Honour formerly served on the Council of the National Library of Australia (2014–18), the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Committee (2013–19), and as chair of Access Arts (2013-2023). 

Justice Bradley is a Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society. His Honour is a recipient of the Quinn Medal and of the Campion Medal. 

Justice Bradley was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 3 December 2018 and to the Court of Appeal on 31 March 2025.