The Honourable David Davis MLC |
|
---|---|
The Hon. David Davis, former Minister for Health and Ageing in the Victorian Government, opening the 2012 U3A Carnival of Learning at Federation Square, Melbourne.
|
|
Victorian Minister for Health | |
In office 2 December 2010 – 4 December 2014 |
|
Premier |
Ted Baillieu Denis Napthine |
Preceded by | Daniel Andrews |
Succeeded by | Jill Hennessy |
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council | |
Assumed office 30 March 1996 |
|
Constituency |
East Yarra Province (1996–2006) Southern Metropolitan Region (2006–present) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Millicent, South Australia |
8 April 1962
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
Occupation | Chiropractor |
David McLean Davis (born 8 April 1962) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council since March 1996, representing East Yarra Province 1996-2006 (until it was abolished) and the Southern Metropolitan Region from 2006 onwards. He was state Minister for Health from 2010 to 2014 under Premiers Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine.
Davis was born in Millicent, South Australia and studied in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Kingswood College (Box Hill). He studied applied science at the Phillip Institute of Technology (now part of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology). Davis also later studied philosophy at the University of Melbourne. He worked as a chiropractor and maintained a private practice until being elected to the Legislative Council in 1996.
Davis had become involved with the Liberal Party during the early 1990s, serving as a delegate on several party committees, and acting as a delegate to the party's State Council between 1993 and 1995. This was to ultimately result in receiving preselection for the safe Liberal seat of East Yarra at the 1996 state election. After the Liberal Party's defeat at the 1999 state election, Davis became the Chair of the Opposition Waste Watch Committee. In this position, he was one of the Labor government's strongest critics, regularly making claims of perceived abuses. In 2000, he became the Parliamentary Secretary for Scrutiny of Government.
Davis almost lost his seat of East Yarra in the 2002 election, but became Shadow Minister for Health, replacing Ron Wilson, who had lost his seat in the 2002 election. In September 2004 Davis announced that if elected, a Liberal government would ban smoking in pubs and clubs. This was followed by a decision from the state government weeks later to the same effect. Davis was often an opponent of Robert Doyle's leadership of the parliamentary Liberal Party. In 2005 Doyle transferred Davis to the lower-profile environment portfolio. In May 2006, after Doyles' resignation and replacement by Ted Baillieu, Davis was once again promoted and given Baillieu's former portfolio of planning.