He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Liberal National Party of Queensland in the contest for the seat of Griffith, held by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in the 2013 federal election.
[2][3] His father, also Bill Glasson (1925–2012), was a National Party Queensland state politician 1974–89, and a Cabinet minister in the Government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, holding the portfolios of Police and Lands, among others.
His practice extends to western Queensland and to East Timor, where he oversees the St John Eye Services and education in Oecuzzi.
In September 2012 he was chosen as the Liberal National Party of Queensland's candidate for the Brisbane federal seat of Griffith[8] to oppose the Labor sitting member, Kevin Rudd.
At that time, Rudd was the former Prime Minister of Australia, as he had resigned the office in June 2010 and Julia Gillard had been elected unopposed in his place.
Glasson was unsuccessful at the September 2013 federal election, with Rudd retaining Griffith with 53.0% of the two-party preferred vote, representing a 5.5% swing against the ALP.
In his concession speech after losing the prime ministership to Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd said "it would be un-prime ministerial of me to say Bill Glasson, eat your heart out, so I won't".