Dean Smith (Australian politician)

Senator
Dean Smith
Senator for Western Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 May 2012
Preceded by Judith Adams
Personal details
Born Dean Anthony Smith
15 May 1969
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Alma mater University of Western Australia
Occupation Political advisor

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 2009, he founded Smith & Duda Consulting, a political lobbying firm, and also served as treasurer of the Liberal Party state branch in Western Australia.[2]

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.[3] Smith is the first openly gay Liberal member of the Australian Parliament and supports same-sex marriage.[4]

Smith is a member of a number of political and community organisations, including Australians for Constitutional Monarchy and Australian National Flag Association.

References

  1. ↑ Hansard: Election of Senator, Parliament of Western Australia, 2 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Guest, Debbie (23 April 2012). "Former Howard man steps into West Australian Senate seat". The Australian. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Dean Smith confirmed as WA's newest Senator". ABC News. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. ↑ 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.

External links