David Smith | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theAustralian Parliament forBean | |
| Assumed office 18 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Division created |
| Senator for theAustralian Capital Territory | |
| In office 23 May 2018 – 11 April 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Katy Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Katy Gallagher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1970-03-25)25 March 1970 (age 55) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Liesl Centenera |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Education | Marist College Canberra |
| Alma mater | Australian National University |
| Occupation | Trade unionist Public servant |
| Website | www |
David Philip Benedict Smith (born 25 March 1970[citation needed]) is an Australian politician. On 23 May 2018, theHigh Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for theAustralian Capital Territory afterLabor senatorKaty Gallagher wasfound ineligible to have been elected.[1] Before his election, Smith was the ACT director of theProfessionals Australia union.[2] He was sworn in to theAustralian Senate on 18 June 2018.[3] He was elected to theHouse of Representatives for theDivision of Bean, ACT, at the2019 federal election.
Smith was born inCanberra, Australian Capital Territory. He completed his schooling atMarist College Canberra, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from theAustralian National University in 1993.[4]
Before joining theAustralian Senate, Smith served in various roles including as an advisor in theDepartment of Employment and Workplace Relations, as an industrial relations manager for theAustralian Federal Police Association, and as a policy advisor in theAustralian Capital Territory Chief Minister's Department underJon Stanhope.[4] In 2007, he took up the role of Director of the ACT branch ofProfessionals Australia, a union which primarily focuses on technical workers such as scientists, engineers, architects, IT professionals, pharmacists, and others.[5]
Smith has been a member of theAustralian 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] He says that he was inspired to serve in politics by the judge and attorney general,Terry Connolly.[7]
On 23 May 2018, theHigh Court of Australia declared him elected as a Senator for theAustralian Capital Territory afterLabor senatorKaty Gallagher wasfound ineligible to have been elected.[1] He was sworn in on 18 June 2018.[3]
On 1 September 2018, Smith was preselected to run for theAustralian Labor Party in theHouse of Representatives seat ofBean.[8] He resigned from the Senate on 11 April 2019, the day the election was called and the Senate prorogued.[9]
At the2019 Australian federal election, Smith was elected as the Member forBean with a margin of 13,971 votes.[10] He was returned to Parliament in the2022 Australian federal election, now to the Government benches, keeping a substantial margin, winning 62.9% in the two-party preferred count.[11] He is the Government Whip in the lower house for theAlbanese government. He also serves on the Standing Committee for Selection and co-chairs the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship with SenatorMatt O'Sullivan.[12][13]
Having been educated in aMarist Brothers college, Smith identifies as aCatholic.[7] He is married to Liesl Centenera. Together, they have three children: Marcus, Eamonn, and Stella.[14]
Media related toDavid Smith (ACT politician) at Wikimedia Commons| Parliament of Australia | ||
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| New seat | Member for Bean 2019–present | Incumbent |