Dean Smith (Australian politician)
Dean Smith | |
---|---|
Senator for Western Australia | |
Assumed office 2 May 2012 | |
Preceded by | Judith Adams |
Personal details | |
Born | Dean Anthony Smith 15 May 1969 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
Occupation | Politician |
Dean Anthony Smith (born 15 May 1969) is an Australian politician and Liberal Party member of the Australian Senate since 2012, representing Western Australia.[1]
Smith joined the Liberal Party at the age of 17, and later worked as a policy advisor to Premier of Western Australia Richard Court. In 1998, he was a senior advisor to Prime Minister John Howard during the Coalition's 1998 federal election campaign. In 2010, he founded Smith & Duda Consulting, a political lobbying firm,[2] and also served as treasurer of the Liberal Party state branch in Western Australia.[3]
Smith was appointed to the Senate on 2 May 2012 by a joint sitting of the Parliament of Western Australia, to fill a casual vacancy caused by the death of Senator Judith Adams.[4] Smith was the first, from the Liberal Party, openly-LGBTI member of the Parliament of Australia and supports marriage equality in Australia.[5] In the past however he opposed same-sex marriage and voted against it.[6]
Smith is a member of a number of political and community organisations, including Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and Australian National Flag Association.
Personal life
Smith is the son of a policeman and housewife and is originally from Mirrabooka.[7] He was the first person in his family to attend university.[7]
References
- ^ Hansard: Election of Senator, Parliament of Western Australia, 2 May 2012.
- ^ LinkedIn profile
- ^ Guest, Debbie (23 April 2012). "Former Howard man steps into West Australian Senate seat (Subscription)". The Australian. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ "Dean Smith confirmed as WA's newest Senator". ABC News. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ Knott, Matthew (20 February 2015). "Liberal MP Dean Smith's views on same-sex marriage turned at 30,000ft". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ^ Smith voted very strongly against same-sex marriage equality
- ^ a b Taylor, Paige (6 May 2012). "New senator a 'constitutional revolutionary'". THE AUSTRALIAN. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
External links
- Official website
- Senator Dean Smith - Parliament of Australia
- Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Dean Smith on TheyVoteForYou.org.au
- 1969 births
- Living people
- Australian monarchists
- Australian political consultants
- Gay politicians
- LGBT politicians from Australia
- LGBT rights activists from Australia
- Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
- Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia
- Members of the Australian Senate
- People from Perth, Western Australia
- Turnbull Government
- University of Western Australia alumni
- Liberal Party of Australia politician stubs