Mel Queanbeyan

Melanie Elise "Mel" Queanbeyan CD, née Twangusua (/kwiːnˈbiːən/ kween- bee -ən, born 22 June 2005) is a former Craftian politician who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Craftia from 2051 to 2058. She is the first woman to have served as Prime Minister and Leader of the Craftian Conservative Party (2051–2059), and was also the first Prime Minister of Reatinese heritage. She is Craftia's fourth longest-serving Prime Minister and longest-serving Conservative Prime Minister, with a tenure of over seven years, assuming office after ousting sitting Prime Minister Vincent Leonard in a leadership spill in June 2051.

Queanbeyan entered parliament at the 2037 federal election. She entered the Shadow Ministry in 2041 under new Conservative Party leader Leonard, serving as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs (2041–2046), Indigenous Affairs (2046–2049) and Education (2049–2050). She became the first female Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party in 2048 under John Hammond, becoming Deputy Prime Minister in 2050 after the 2050 Craftian constitutional crisis, which enabled Leonard to become Prime Minister. After defeating Leonard in a leadership spill 8 months later, Queanbeyan became the first female Prime Minister of Craftia.

The Queanbeyan Government had a highly neoliberal, free market and fiscally conservative platform, and enacted expansive economic reforms while heavily cutting taxes and allowing for economic deregulation. Economic growth rebounded and remained particularly strong under Queanbeyan's prime ministership, after a period of stagnation in the late 2040s. Queanbeyan's personal popularity and middle class appeal contributed to her government being reelected twice – a record for the Conservatives – despite being called 'illegitimate' by the Liberals and trade unions for coming into power by the virtue of Kevin Abbott's dismissal.

In terms of social issues, Queanbeyan's Catholicism played a minimal role in policy making, although government funding of private and Catholic schools increased during her term. Queanbeyan belonged to the libertarian faction of the Conservative Party, and sought to relax gun control laws and was strongly against the military intervention in North Tendos during her term. A national referendum regarding firearms deregulation and relaxed gun laws was held in 2056, resulting in a landslide defeat for the 'Yes' side, which Queanbeyan heavily campaigned for. This contributed towards her landslide defeat by Zahab Wibowus of the National United Party at the 2058 election. She continued to serve as Leader of the Opposition until January 2059, when she resigned from parliament.

The Queanbeyan Government today is remembered for being arguably the most economically liberal and pro-free market government in Craftian history, its emphasis on increasing civil liberties, reform of the national education system and development of regional cities. Queanbeyan's tenure as Prime Minister is highly ranked by historians and scholars but her legacy has been tarnished by allegations of nepotism towards her son Reagen Queanbeyan (highlighted by the fact that she appointed him Deputy Prime Minister in 2055) and factionalism during her time in office.