David Simmons (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
David William Simmons, OAM
(born 7 November 1947), a former Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
from 1983 to 1996, representing the seat of Calare
for the Australian Labor Party
. Simmons held several junior Ministerial positions in the Hawke
and Keating
Governments.
and arrived in Bathurst, New South Wales
in 1965 and commenced study for a Bachelor of Arts at Bathurst Teacher's College, a precursor instition to Charles Sturt University
.
After graduation, Simmons taught at Tullibigeal Central, Bletchington and Broken Hill North before changing to secondary teaching and transferring to Bathurst High School
where he became Head Teacher of Social Science. He had also completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education with honours from the University of New England
.
Simmons was an elected Alderman
on Bathurst City Council
from 1978 to 1983.
seat of Calare
at the 1983 federal election
, after two unsuccessful attempts, representing the Australian Labor Party
. Simmons was re-elected as Member for Calare at the 1984, 1987, 1990, and 1993 Australian federal elections.
He was appointed Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in April 1989 in the third Hawke ministry
. In April 1990, in the fourth Hawke ministry
, Simmons became Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories
. In December 1991, Simmons became Minister for Family Support from and Minister for Local Government in the first Keating ministry
. Following the March 1993 Australian federal election, Simmons was not re-appointed to the second Keating ministry
.
During the National Tax Summit in 1985, Simmons initially raised the concept of a national identity card, later entitled as the Australia Card
, as a measure to address community and government concern about tax evasion and tax avoidance; concerns over the extent of welfare fraud; fears over the extent of illegal immigration. Additionally, there was a belief expressed in some quarters that an identity card or national registration procedure might assist the government's administration processes. Legislation was introduced into Parliament and finally rejected by the Australian Senate
in 1987 after significant community concerns, including privacy. Following his retirement from Parliament, Simmons conceded that he didn’t think the concept would ever be accepted by the public.
During his Parliamentary career, Simmons was the Australian representative at the UN in New York for three months and delivered an address on the apartheid policy in South Africa.
Simmons retired from Parliament ahead of the 1996 federal election and moved to Newcastle
.
During 2006, Simmons was appointed by the NSW Minister for Local Government to undertake a formal public inquiry into Broken Hill City Council.
Simmons' wife, Kaye, has also held positions in the New South Wales division of the Labor Party. In 2006, it was reported that she was on the ALP administrative committee and served as campaign manager for Jodi McKay
, Labor candidate and subsequent Member for Newcastle
.
(OAM) for services to the Australian Parliament and the community of the Hunter Region.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 7 November 1947), a former Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from 1983 to 1996, representing the seat of Calare
Division of Calare
The Division of Calare is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was first contested at the 1906 election and is named for the local Aboriginal name for the Lachlan River, which runs through the western part of the division...
for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. Simmons held several junior Ministerial positions in the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
and Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
Governments.
Early career
Simmons was born in Broken Hill, New South WalesBroken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
and arrived in Bathurst, New South Wales
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
in 1965 and commenced study for a Bachelor of Arts at Bathurst Teacher's College, a precursor instition to Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
.
After graduation, Simmons taught at Tullibigeal Central, Bletchington and Broken Hill North before changing to secondary teaching and transferring to Bathurst High School
Bathurst High School (Australia)
Bathurst High School or as it is now known, Bathurst High Campus, is a secondary school in Bathurst founded in 1883. Along with Kelso High Campus it makes up Denison College of Secondary Education....
where he became Head Teacher of Social Science. He had also completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education with honours from the University of New England
University of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
.
Simmons was an elected Alderman
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
on Bathurst City Council
Bathurst Regional Council
Bathurst Regional Council administers the Bathurst Region Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. It is approximately 200 km west of Sydney and has a population of 37,001 . It is on the Great Western Highway, Mid-Western Highway, Mitchell Highway and the Main Western railway...
from 1978 to 1983.
Federal political career
Simmons was elected to the Australian House of RepresentativesAustralian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seat of Calare
Division of Calare
The Division of Calare is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was first contested at the 1906 election and is named for the local Aboriginal name for the Lachlan River, which runs through the western part of the division...
at the 1983 federal election
Australian federal election, 1983
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election, following a double dissolution...
, after two unsuccessful attempts, representing the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. Simmons was re-elected as Member for Calare at the 1984, 1987, 1990, and 1993 Australian federal elections.
He was appointed Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in April 1989 in the third Hawke ministry
Third Hawke Ministry
The Third Hawke Ministry was the fifty-seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 24 July 1987 to 4 April 1990.Australian Labor Party-Cabinet:*Hon Bob Hawke, AC MP: Prime Minister...
. In April 1990, in the fourth Hawke ministry
Fourth Hawke Ministry
The Fourth Hawke Ministry was the fifty-eighth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 4 April 1990 to 20 December 1991.Australian Labor Party-Cabinet:*Hon Bob Hawke, AC MP: Prime Minister...
, Simmons became Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
. In December 1991, Simmons became Minister for Family Support from and Minister for Local Government in the first Keating ministry
First Keating Ministry
The First Keating Ministry was the 59th Australian Commonwealth ministry. It was led by Paul Keating of the Australian Labor Party, and held office from 20 December 1991 to 24 March 1993.-Cabinet:*Hon Paul Keating, MP: Prime Minister...
. Following the March 1993 Australian federal election, Simmons was not re-appointed to the second Keating ministry
Second Keating Ministry
The Second Keating Ministry was the sixtieth Australian Commonwealth ministry. It was led by Paul Keating of the Australian Labor Party, and held office from 24 March 1993 to 11 March 1996...
.
During the National Tax Summit in 1985, Simmons initially raised the concept of a national identity card, later entitled as the Australia Card
Australia Card
The Australia Card was a controversial proposal for a national identification card for Australian citizens and resident foreigners. The proposal was made in 1985, and abandoned in 1987....
, as a measure to address community and government concern about tax evasion and tax avoidance; concerns over the extent of welfare fraud; fears over the extent of illegal immigration. Additionally, there was a belief expressed in some quarters that an identity card or national registration procedure might assist the government's administration processes. Legislation was introduced into Parliament and finally rejected by the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
in 1987 after significant community concerns, including privacy. Following his retirement from Parliament, Simmons conceded that he didn’t think the concept would ever be accepted by the public.
During his Parliamentary career, Simmons was the Australian representative at the UN in New York for three months and delivered an address on the apartheid policy in South Africa.
Simmons retired from Parliament ahead of the 1996 federal election and moved to Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
Post political career
Since his retirement from politics, Simmons has served on a number of government and non-profit Boards, including:- Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle and Hunter Business Chamber (1997–2001)
- General Manager of Newcastle Regional Chamber of Commerce (1997 -1998?)
- Director of Tourism NSW (1997–2003)
- Chairman of the Hunter Medical Research Institute Foundation (2002–2003)
- Director of the Regional Land Management Corporation (a subsidiary of the Hunter Water Corporation) (2003–2005)
- President of the New South Wales division of the National Heart Foundation of AustraliaNational Heart Foundation of AustraliaThe National Heart Foundation of Australia is an independent charity established in 1959. Its vision is for Australians to have the best cardiovascular health in the world and its mission is to reduce suffering and death from heart, stroke and blood vessel disease in Australia.Over the past five...
(2006–2009).
During 2006, Simmons was appointed by the NSW Minister for Local Government to undertake a formal public inquiry into Broken Hill City Council.
Simmons' wife, Kaye, has also held positions in the New South Wales division of the Labor Party. In 2006, it was reported that she was on the ALP administrative committee and served as campaign manager for Jodi McKay
Jodi McKay
Jodi Leyanne McKay is a former Australian politician who represented the electoral district of Newcastle in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2007 until her defeat at the New South Wales state election, 2011.McKay was the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for the Hunter in the Rees...
, Labor candidate and subsequent Member for Newcastle
Electoral district of Newcastle
Newcastle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales named after and including Newcastle. It is represented by Tim Owen of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
.
Honours
In 2001, Simmons was awarded the Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM) for services to the Australian Parliament and the community of the Hunter Region.