David Clarke (Australian politician)
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The Honourable David Clarke MLC |
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| Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales | |
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Assumed office 22 March 2003 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | David John Clarke |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Website | Parliamentary webpage |
David John Clarke, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003. and is considered to have conservative Roman Catholic views.
Prior to entering Parliament, Clarke studied a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney and worked as a solicitor.
Clarke is married with four children. While not a member, David Clarke is a co-operator of the Opus Dei prelature of the Roman Catholic Church, and is considered to have conservative Christian views. His wife is a member of Opus Dei.
Clarke has been called a leading member of the right-wing of the Liberal Party 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."
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. While serving on the Ethnic Council, he supported (accused Nazi collaborator) Lyenko Urbanchich and many other members of the Council. Clarke also helped organise the numbers to narrowly save Urbanchich from expulsion from the Liberal Party after controversies arose about his past. 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."
In February 2010, Clarke won preselection against David Elliott, the chief executive of the Civil Contractors Federation to ensure he can potentially serve on the New South Wales Legislative Council until 1 March 2019.
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