David Hawker - MP Federal Member for Mannon

David Hawker has been a member of Federal Parliament for the past 21 years, after being elected to the seat of Wannon in Western Victoria in May, 1983.

He currently holds the position of Chairman of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration. This is one of the key all-Party Committees of the Parliament and was formerly known as the Banking Committee. Currently the Committee is undertaking a major inquiry into cost shifting on to local government. In addition he is a member of the Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. In his earlier role as Chairman Mr Hawker introduced the Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme.

Mr Hawker also is currently Chairman of the Wool Sub-Committee of the Coalition Primary Industry Committee and was the Minister’s representative on an industry committee looking at the problem of wool contamination. He also headed up the Firearms Consultative Committee looking into new uniform gun laws. In 1997 he chaired an all Party Steel Advisory Committee.

Prior to the election of the Liberal/National Government in March, 1996, Mr Hawker was Opposition Whip for the Federal Coalition.

During his time in Parliament David has been involved in a number of Parliamentary committees, including being elected Deputy Chairman of the Science, Industry and Technology Committee. More recently he was a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure.

Mr Hawker held the position of Shadow Minister for Land Transport from May, 1990 - April 1993 and in this role he was responsible for all Federal aspects of the road transport industry, road funding, road safety and the railways.

From May, 1993 - March, 1996 Mr Hawker was a member of Coalition's influential eight-member Expenditure Review Committee as the only non-Shadow Minister. This Committee reviewed the budgetary implications of the Federal Government's policy proposals and initiatives.

In September, 1993 Mr Hawker was appointed as the new chairman of the Liberal Party's Federal Regional and Rural Committee. The Regional and Rural Committee fulfils an extremely important role as the eyes and ears of the Liberal Party in regional and rural Australia . In January 1994, he was appointed a Deputy Chairman of the Coalition Urban and Regional Strategy Task Force. This Task Force co-ordinated and focused Coalition policy development on community and economic needs.

Before entering Parliament David ran a farm in Western Victoria . Prior to that he completed an Engineering degree at the University of Melbourne.

David and his wife, Penny , live in Hamilton in Western Victoria and they have four children