Jump to content

David Smith (Australian Capital Territory politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Frickeg (talk | contribs) at 23:31, 24 August 2018 (birth date). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

David Smith
Assumed office
23 May 2018
Preceded byKaty Gallagher
Personal details
Born (1970-03-25) 25 March 1970 (age 54)
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
SpouseLiesl Centenera
Children3
Residence(s)Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
EducationMarist College Canberra
Alma materAustralian National University
OccupationTrade unionist
Public servant
WebsiteOfficial APH webpage

David Philip Benedict Smith (born 25 March 1970) is an Australian politician. On 23 May 2018, the High Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory after Labor senator Katy Gallagher was found ineligible to have been elected.[1] Prior to his election, Smith was the ACT director of the Professionals Australia union.[2] He was sworn in to the Australian Senate on 18 June 2018.[3]

Early years and education

Smith was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. He completed his schooling at Marist College Canberra, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the Australian National University in 1993.[4]

Public service and trade union

Prior to joining the Australian Senate, Smith served in various roles including as an advisor in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, as an industrial relations manager for the Australian Federal Police Association, and as a policy advisor in the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department under Jon Stanhope.[4] In 2007, he took up the role of Director of the ACT branch of Professionals Australia, a union which primarily focuses on technical workers such as scientists, engineers, architects, IT professionals, pharmacists, and others.[5]

Political career

Smith has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1992. He ran for the Senate in 2004, and was the second candidate on the ALP's 2016 Senate ticket.[5] At the 2016 ACT Labor Annual Conference he was elected Senior Vice-President of the ACT Branch of the Australian Labor Party.[6]

On 23 May 2018, the High Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory after Labor senator Katy Gallagher was found ineligible to have been elected.[1] He was sworn in on 18 June 2018.[3]

Personal life

Smith is married to Liesl Centenera. They have three children: Marcus, Eamonn, and Stella.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Whyte, Sally (23 May 2018). "Labor's David Smith declared elected as new ACT senator by High Court". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  2. ^ Belot, Henry (5 June 2016). "Public service battles an election issue in marginal seats, senate hopeful". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b Whyte, Sally (18 June 2018). "New ACT senator sworn in as controversy around his future continues". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b Pryor, Sally (8 May 2018). "Meet the union man set to replace Katy Gallagher". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b Bushnell, Ian (8 May 2018). "Meet David Smith, the man in line to replace Katy Gallagher in the Senate". The Riot ACT. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Senator David Smith". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2018-07-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ Whyte, Sally (23 May 2018). "David Smith officially begins as new senator for the ACT". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 June 2018.