David Hall (Australian politician)

David Robert Hall (5 March 1874 – 6 September 1945) was an Australian politician.

Hall was born in Harrietville, Victoria, and studied law at the University of Sydney before becoming a barrister in 1903. By that time, he had already become involved in state politics, having been elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for the rural electorate of Gunnedah in 1901.^[1]

Hall made a switch to federal politics at the 1906 election, contesting the House of Representatives seat of Werriwa for the Australian Labor Party. He was successful, defeating Alfred Conroy, the sitting Commonwealth Liberal Party member. Hall represented the electorate until 1912, when he resigned mid-term to return to State politics. At the subsequent by-election, the new Labor candidate, Benjamin Bennett, once again defeated Conroy.

New South Wales Premier James McGowen appointed Hall Minister of Justice and Solicitor General in April 1912 and had him appointed to the Legislative Council in July 1912. He won the seat of Enmore in December 1913 and held it to 1920. From 1914 to 1919, he was Attorney General. In 1916, he was expelled from the Labor Party for supporting conscription. He continued to be Attoreny-General in the Holman government, but was no longer Minister of Justice. In 1919 he became Minister for Housing until February 1920.^[1] He was then appointed Agent General to London, but this appointment was cancelled by the incoming Storey Labor government.^[2]

Hall subsequently had a legal career and ran unsuccessfully for the United Australia Party in the Senate in 1937. He died in Vaucluse.

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