David Alistair Kemp (born 14 October 1941) is a retired Australian politician. He was a
Liberal member of the
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the upper house being the Senate. Its composition and powers are established in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia.
The term of members of ...
from March 1990 to October 2004, representing the
Division of Goldstein, Victoria.
Early life and education
Kemp was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at the
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb ...
and
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the w ...
, where he gained a doctoral degree in politics. He is the brother of Senator
Rod Kemp
Charles Roderick Kemp (born 21 December 1944) is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2008, representing the state of Victoria.
Kemp was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at Melbou ...
, and the son of
Charles Denton Kemp
Charles Denton Kemp (23 April 1911 – 24 June 1993), was an Australian economist and economic policy commentator, and founder of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).
Kemp was educated at Glamorgan and Scotch College. After taking a Commerce ...
, founder of the
.
Career
Kemp was Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Melbourne 1975–79 and Professor of Politics at
Monash University
Monash University () is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Named for prominent World War I general Sir John Monash, it was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. The university has ...
, Melbourne 1979–90. He is the author of ''Society and Electoral Behaviour in Australia: a Study of Three Decades'' (1978), ''Malcolm Fraser on Australia'' (with D. M. White) (1986), ''Current Priorities for Liberalism'' (1986) and ''Foundations for Australian Political Analysis: Politics and Authority'' (1988).
Political career
Kemp was Senior Adviser to
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser (; 21 May 1930 – 20 March 2015) was an Australian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Australia from 1975 to 1983, holding office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Fraser was raised on hi ...
, Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister 1975–76 and Director of the Prime Minister's Office 1981.
In 1990 Kemp challenged Liberal MP and former Cabinet minister,
Ian Macphee
Ian Malcolm Macphee AO (born 13 July 1938) is an Australian former politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1974 until 1990. He is best known for his contributions in developing Australian multiculturalism and for bein ...
, for Liberal endorsement in the safe Melbourne seat of Goldstein. Kemp was seen as the candidate of the conservative wing of the Liberal Party, against a leading moderate liberal figure. Kemp won the battle.
Kemp was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1990–96. He was Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister Assisting the Minister for Finance for Privatisation 1996–97. He was promoted to Cabinet as
Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs 1997–98 and
Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs 1998–2001. He was
Minister for Environment and Heritage from November 2001 to July 2004. He was
Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Vice-President of the Executive Council is the minister in the Government of Australia who acts as the presiding officer of meetings of the Federal Executive Council when the Governor-General is absent. The Vice-President of the Executiv ...
from October 1998 to July 2004. His brother Rod was a fellow minister.
David Kemp retired at the
2004 election. He was succeeded as member for Goldstein by
Andrew Robb
Andrew John Robb (born 20 August 1951) is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2016, representing the Liberal Party. He served as Minister for Trade and Investment (2013–2016) in the ...
.
In 2007, he was elected President of the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party. He retired in 2011 and was replaced as Liberal state President by Tony Snell.
Post-political career
In 2012, Kemp became chairman of Scotch College, Melbourne
(For God, for Country, and for Learning)
, established =
, type = Independent, day and boarding
, gender = Boys
, denomination = Presbyterian
, slogan =
, ...
. In 2017, Kemp was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
for eminent service to the Parliament of Australia, notably in the areas of employment, education, training and youth affairs, to the environment, to institutional reform and public policy development, and to the community.
References
External links
Parliament of Australia biography
Liberal Party biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, David
1941 births
Living people
Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
Members of the Cabinet of Australia
Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Goldstein
Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Companions of the Order of Australia
Monash University faculty
University of Melbourne alumni
University of Melbourne faculty
Yale University alumni
Political science educators
Political science writers
People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
21st-century Australian politicians
20th-century Australian politicians
Government ministers of Australia