He was born in Brisbane, and educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School[1] and the University of Queensland.

He became a junior corporate executive and then industrial officer for the Australian Association of Employers of Waterside Labour.

He joined the Liberal Party of Australia, and in 1966, aged 26, he won the marginal seat of Griffith in inner Brisbane, and held it against determined challenges from the Australian Labor Party until 1977, when a redistribution nearly erased his majority there.

[2] In 1972, Cameron announced his support for lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 and said the McMahon government's inaction on the matter was alienating young people.

[4] In the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, Don Cameron was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to the community, particularly youth, and to the Australian Parliament".