David Watson (Queensland politician)

David Watson
Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party Elections: 2001
In office 23 June 1998 – 28 February 2001
Deputy	Bob Quinn
Preceded by	Joan Sheldon
Succeeded by	Bob Quinn
Shadow Minister for Energy
In office 22 April 2003 – 7 February 2004
Leader	Lawrence Springborg
Preceded by	Jeff Seeney
Succeeded by	Jeff Seeney
Shadow Treasurer of Queensland
In office 2 July 1998 – 17 February 2001
Leader	Rob Borbidge
Preceded by	David Hamill
Succeeded by	Jeff Seeney
Minister for Public Works and Housing of Queensland
In office 28 April 1997 – 26 June 1998
Premier	Rob Borbidge
Preceded by	Ray Connor
Succeeded by	Robert Schwarten
Deputy Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party
In office 13 May 1990 – 24 September 1992
Leader	Denver Beanland Joan Sheldon
Preceded by	Denver Beanland
Succeeded by	Santo Santoro
Member of the Australian Parliament for Forde
In office 1 December 1984 – 11 July 1987
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Mary Crawford
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Moggill
In office 2 December 1989 – 7 February 2004
Preceded by	Bill Lickiss
Succeeded by	Bruce Flegg
Personal details
Born	David John Hopetoun Watson (1945-01-29) 29 January 1945 Sydney
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Alma mater	University of Queensland Ohio State University
Occupation	Accountant

David John Hopetoun Watson (born 29 January 1945) is an Australian former politician.

Early life

Born in Sydney, Watson was educated at the University of Queensland and Ohio State University before becoming an accountant. He was Professor of Accounting and Dean of Commerce and Economics at the University of Queensland before entering politics.

Politics

In 1984, Watson was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Forde. He was defeated in the next federal election in 1987, but in 1989 was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the member for Moggill. He was the Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works 1997–1998 and Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party 1998–2001. As state Liberal leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, he led the Liberals into the 2001 state election, which saw Labor reelected in a record landslide. Watson himself was nearly swept up in that year's massive Labor wave, surviving by only 396 votes. He was left as the only non-Labor MLA from Brisbane.