David Simmons (Australian politician)

David William Simmons (born 7 November 1947) was the Australian politician and government minister.

Simmons was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales and received a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education from the University of New England. Prior to running for parliament he was a social sciences master at Bathurst High School. He was an alderman on Bathurst City Council from 1978 to 1983.

Simmons was elected to the Australian House of Representatives seat of Calare at the 1983 federal election, representing the Australian Labor Party. He was appointed Minister for Defence Science and Personnel in April 1989 in the third Hawke ministry. In April 1990 he became Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories. In December 1991, he became Minister for Family Support from and Minister for Local Government. He was not re-elected to the second Keating ministry in March 1983 and retired from parliament ahead of the 1996 federal election.^[1]

Simmons is the President of the New South Wales division of the Heart Foundation.^[2]

[edit] References

Political offices
Preceded by Ros Kelly	Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 1989 – 1990	Succeeded by Gordon Bilney
Preceded by Clyde Holding	Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories 1990 – 1991	Succeeded by Wendy Fatin
New title	Minister for Family Support 1991 – 1993	Succeeded by Rosemary Crowley
Preceded by Wendy Fatin	Minister for Local Government 1991 – 1993	Succeeded by Brian Howe
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Sandy Mackenzie	Member for Calare 1983 – 1996	Succeeded by Peter Andren