David Clarke (Australian politician)

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David John Clarke, Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2003.

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Clarke is married with four children. Prior to his political career he was employed as a solicitor.[citation needed] Whilst not a member, David Clarke is a co-operator of the Opus Dei prelature of the Roman Catholic Church[1], and has a self-professed strong Christian viewpoint of life. [2] His wife is a member of Opus Dei. [3]

[edit] Political Viewpoints

David Clarke has spoken frequently on his political viewpoints stating that they naturally reflecting the Liberal Party. He told the Sydney Morning Herald that "I work on the premise that most people have conservative values in the Liberal Party and that my values are in alignment with theirs." [4]

Clarke is a self-described strong supporter the constitutional monarchy, traditional marriage, free speech, freedom of religion, and free enterprise. In his maiden (or inaugurual) speech in 2003, Clarke promised to “uphold and advocate the conservative, mainstream and Christian-based truths and values that I believe our nation is based upon … with missionary zeal” [5], advocated state sovereignty, the decentralisation of government power, and stated that "I respect the right of individuals to live their lives as they choose, unmolested and without harassment and persecution, provided they do not bring harm to others or to institutions and concepts that protect others." [6]

Clarke's views have been labelled "ultra-conservative" [7] and those held by some in the Christian Right of the Liberal Party (such as his opposition to the "culture of abortion" and opposition to euthanasia). While he describes Australia as "a Christian nation"[1] and that there is nothing wrong with religious values influencing legislation on the age of consent, abortion and euthanasia, he denies that his views override his respect for the separation of church and state, individual rights and free enterprise, and notes his support for superannuation rights for same-sex couples, and that same sex couples are entitled to their choice to live together.[2].

David Clarke rejects the title of extremist stating "the issues that I’ve come forward on and I’ve been publicised about having views on, my stand has been, has the support of the majority of people or if not the majority of people, a very, very significant minority of people. And what I’m saying is whether it’s the majority or a significant minority, that certainly doesn’t make it an extremist stand." [8]. Sydney Morning Herald columnist, Miranda Devine, has said in light of the perception of Clarke that "the right better reflects the feelings of Liberal voters and, indeed, the broader community." [9]

[edit] Political History

Clarke has been called a leading member of the right-wing of the Liberal Party [10] in the media. Despite this, Clarke has stated that "I don’t think there is a formal factional system operating in the Liberal Party" and that "the Liberal Party traditionally has not been a party based on factions and I don’t believe it’s based on factions now. " [11]

In the late 1970s, Clarke was involved on the Liberal Party’s Ethnic Council, which attempted to foster the development of persons of different ethnicities in the Liberal Party, as well as oppose communism in Eastern Europe.[citation needed] Whilst on the Ethnic Council, he was a close ally to the activism of Lyenko Urbanchich and his organisational work such as alleged branch stacking. Clarke also helped organise the numbers to narrowly save Urbanchich from expulsion from the Liberal Party. [12] [13] [14] [15] Former NSW Opposition Leader from 1981-1983, John Dowd described Clarke as being "perceived as a lieutenant who carried out the views of Urbanchich and co in their branch stacking and endeavouring to take control of a large measure of the [Liberal] party." [16]

[edit] Others views

Some Liberal colleagues, such as former member of the Legislative Council, Patricia Forsythe, in blaming David Clarke for her failure to win preselection, have expressed trepidation towards what they have called Clarke's "extreme" views.[17] She said in 2005 that she was "very fearful of the power of David Clarke...because he has around him a significant group of people who are absolutely fixated on their agenda, and a very narrow agenda." [18] Similarly, former Member for Hawkesbury, Steven Pringle also attributes his disendorsement to Clarke. [19] NSW Labor MP Kristina Keneally has expressed a view in New South Wales Parliament that Clarke "effect[ed] a right-wing takeover of Liberal Party branches. David Clarke is the godfather of the Extremist Right of the Liberal Party." [20]

However, in early 2007 Clarke successfully sued Melbourne University Press for defamation at the District Court of New South Wales after the publication of a book, The Education of a Young Liberal,[21] by former member of the Liberal Party's small 'l' liberal faction (known as "The Group"). The defendant publisher conceded that imputations of political extremism were defamatory, and the court held that the book further defamed Clarke by slurs on his character.[22] Sarri Markson writes that “[I]t's when talking about topics other than politics that he [i.e. Clarke] show the softer side … seems unafraid to be emotional about his family … I’m left wondering whether its possible that one of the most feared men in the NSW Liberal Party is just a big softie.”[23] Clarke states that his Catholic views on social policy issues are broadly consistent with the rest of the community.[24]

[edit] Connection to Young Liberals

Journalist Mark Aarons and others have claimed that Clarke has a significant influence on the Young Liberals. [25] [26] Alex Hawke, former national president of the Young Liberals, was his parliamentary staffer. There has been much media coverage of the connection between Clarke and Hawke because of the preselection of Hawke to the Federal seat of Mitchell in June 2007. [27] [28] [29]

Kyle Kutasi, former Young Liberal and former President of the Sydney University Liberal Club is Clarke's son-in-law. [30]

Clarke has also been known to regularly attend Young Liberals events. [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Religion Report, "Opus Dei in Australian politics" 12th May 2004 (accessed 30 July 2006)
  2. ^ a b Sunday Profile - David Clarke Interview (accessed 30 July 2006)
  3. ^ David Clarke :: Sunday Profile
  4. ^ Party animals - National - smh.com.au
  5. ^ Chloe Hooper "Young Libs in the Chocolate Factory", The Monthly, no.2 (June 2005)
  6. ^ David Clarke, Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Bill, NSW Hansard Articles: LC: 27/05/2003: #29
  7. ^ Chloe Hooper "Young Libs in the Chocolate Factory", The Monthly, no.2 (June 2005)
  8. ^ David Clarke :: Sunday Profile
  9. ^ Rough play won't spoil the party - Opinion - smh.com.au
  10. ^ Liberal factions erupt over seats - National - www.smh.com.au
  11. ^ David Clarke :: Sunday Profile
  12. ^ Liberal loss may lead party into arid zealotry | The Australian
  13. ^ Stateline NSW
  14. ^ Ardent Nazi took Liberal to extremes - Obituaries - smh.com.au
  15. ^ Four Corners - 17/07/2006: Program Transcript
  16. ^ Four Corners - 17/07/2006: Program Transcript
  17. ^ Sydney Morning Herald - Ordinary Libs being swept aside, Forsythe says (accessed 19 July 2006)
  18. ^ Stateline NSW
  19. ^ Honourable Member for Hawkesbury - 17/10/2006 - NSW Parliament
  20. ^ Macquarie University Union Use of Student Funds - 25/10/2006 - PRIV - NSW Parliament
  21. ^ John Hyde-Page, The Education of a Young Liberal (Melbourne University Press, 2007)
  22. ^ David Clarke v Melbourne University Publishing Ltd t/a Melbourne University Press (2007) NSWDC 209; (2007) 5 DCLR (NSW) 308; (2008) ALMD 1736
  23. ^ Sharri Markson, “The Puppet Master” Sunday Telegraph (20 April 2008) page 79
  24. ^ Sharri Markson, "Hard-line Lib Lauds Heavenly Wife" The Daily Telegraph (20 April 2008) (online)
  25. ^ Ardent Nazi took Liberal to extremes - Obituaries - smh.com.au
  26. ^ http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2005/09/03/1125302782295.html
  27. ^ http://www.thenorthernnews.com.au/2007/05/3_its_hawke_v_elliott_in_mitch.php
  28. ^ http://www.hillsnews.com.au/2007/06/cadman_falls_on_his_sword.php
  29. ^ Age does not worry him, says Lib hopeful - National - brisbanetimes.com.au
  30. ^ Macquarie University Union Use of Student Funds - 25/10/2006 - PRIV - NSW Parliament
  31. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200701.php
  32. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200616.php
  33. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200706.php
  34. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200615.php
  35. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200411.php
  36. ^ http://www.younglibs.org.au/news/news_200305.php