David Hunter (New South Wales politician)
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David Hunter OBE |
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| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Croydon |
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In office 1940–1959 |
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| Preceded by | Bertram Stevens |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon |
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In office 1959–1968 |
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| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Electoral district of Ashfield |
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In office 1968–1976 |
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| Preceded by | Seat recreated |
| Succeeded by | Paul Whelan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Benjamin Hunter 5 September 1905 Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 31 August 1981 (aged 75) Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | |
David Benjamin Hunter (5 September 1905 – 31 August 1981) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1976, representing three successive conservative parties - the United Australia Party, Democratic Party, and Liberal Party. He was the first blind member of the Parliament of New South Wales, and held the seat of Croydon and its successor seats of Ashfield-Croydon and Ashfield for a total of 36 years.
Hunter was born in Sydney, and lost his sight at the age of six after contracting meningitis. He was educated at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, and worked as an insurance broker before his election to parliament. He was actively involved in the United Australia Party, serving on its central council from 1937 to 1937 and 1940 to 1942. His local member, former Premier Bertram Stevens, resigned to contest a federal seat in 1940, and Hunter won preselection to contest the subsequent by-election. He was easily elected, in doing so becoming the first blind person to be elected to the Parliament of New South Wales.
Hunter was forceful from the beginning that his disability would not impact upon his performance as a member of parliament. He stated in his inaugural speech that he would "endeavour to make [fellow members] forget that there is a physical handicap under which [he laboured]", urged that he be treated as a "normal, ordinary citizen", and urged opposition members not to soften their responses to him out of sympathy. He did not use a walking stick or guide dog, and memorised his way around the corridors of Parliament. He made notes in Braille, wrote his own correspondence, and could read Braille at a speed of more than 200 words per minute.
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