David Coleman (Australian politician)

For other people named David Coleman, see David Coleman (disambiguation).

The Honourable
David Coleman
MP
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
In office
28 August 2018 – 22 December 2020
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byPeter Dutton
Succeeded byAlex Hawke
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
In office
22 December 2020 – 23 May 2022
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byNew title
Succeeded byEmma McBride
Assistant Minister for Finance
In office
20 December 2017 – 28 August 2018
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
MinisterMathias Cormann
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byZed Seselja
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Banks
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 September 2013
Preceded byDaryl Melham
Majority3.20% (5,893)
Personal details
Born (1974-03-05) 5 March 1974 (age 50)
Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLiberal
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionManagement consultant
Websiteaph.gov.au/D_Coleman_MP

David Bernard Coleman (born 5 March 1974) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Liberal Party and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2013 federal election, holding the New South Wales seat of Banks. Coleman served as the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention from December 2020 until May 2022. He previously served as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in the Morrison government from August 2018, although in December 2019 he took indefinite leave for personal reasons. He had earlier served as Assistant Minister for Finance in the Turnbull government from 2017 to 2018.[1]

Early life and education

Coleman was born in Camden,[2] a south-western suburb of Sydney. He attended primary school at Saint Thomas à Becket primary school in Lewisham; and completed his schooling at the Christian Brothers' High School, also in Lewisham. Coleman studied at the University of New South Wales, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws,[3] and was president of the UNSW Student Guild in 1997.[2]

Career

Before entering politics, Coleman worked for global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co, LookSmart, dStore, and since 2005, in a variety of roles for PBL Media[2] and the Nine Network[4] where he was the director of strategy and digital. Coleman entered Liberal preselection contests for Cook in 2007 and Bradfield in 2010; but he was unsuccessful in receiving Liberal endorsement.[3] Before his election to Parliament, Coleman held directorships with ninemsn Pty Limited (2008–13), Australian News Channel Pty Limited (2008–13), and Yellow Brick Road Holdings Limited (2011–13).[2]

At the 2013 federal election Coleman defeated the incumbent Labor member for Banks, Daryl Melham, who had held the seat for 23 years.[3] Coleman recorded a two-party preferred swing of 3.28 points in his favour;[5] and became the first non-Labor member to hold the seat since the Division of Banks was created in 1949.[6]

Ministerial career

Coleman was appointed Assistant Minister for Finance in December 2017, in the Second Turnbull Ministry.[2] In the August 2018 leadership spills, he reportedly supported Malcolm Turnbull in the first vote and Scott Morrison in the second.[7][8] He was subsequently appointed Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs in the First Morrison Ministry. After the government's re-election at the 2019 election, his title was changed to Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs.[2]

In December 2019, it was announced that Coleman would be taking indefinite leave for personal reasons, with Alan Tudge taking over his portfolio as acting minister.[9] He formally remained as a minister until a December 2020 reshuffle, in which he was instead appointed Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.[2] He served in this portfolio until May 2022, following the appointment of the Albanese ministry.

Opposition

Coleman was re-elected as Member for Banks in 2022. He was appointed as Shadow Minister for Communications in the shadow ministry of Peter Dutton on 12 February 2023.

In 2024, Coleman as Shadow Minister for Communications supported the Labor government plans for a Age verification system in social media.[10]

Personal life and views

Coleman is a member of the Moderate/Modern Liberal faction of the Liberal Party.[11][12]

Coleman was in favour of legalising same-sex marriage in the 2017 postal survey.[13]

Coleman is married to Dotte Derrickson and they have two children.[14]

References

  1. ^ Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018. David Coleman, who came to Parliament after a long career in business, was elevated to the ministry as Assistant Minister for Finance.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Mr David Coleman MP". Senators and Members. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Galinovic, Maria (11 September 2013). "Coleman eager to deliver on commitments". St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. ^ "David Coleman Liberal for Banks". Liberal Party of Australia – New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. ^ "House of Representatives: NSW: Banks". Election 2013. Australian Electoral Commission. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  6. ^ Coleman, David (19 November 2013). "First speech". Hansard extract. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Malcolm Turnbull v Peter Dutton: Who voted for whom? The full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  8. ^ "How the party members voted in the Liberal leadership contest". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Immigration Minister David Coleman takes indefinite personal leave, hands over duties". SBS News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Debate rages as Australia set to ban children from social media". 1News. Australian Associated Press. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 10 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  12. ^ Massola, James (8 April 2023). "How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Statement on Same Sex Marriage'". Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  14. ^ "About David". davidcoleman.com.au. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Banks
2013–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
New ministerial post Assistant Minister for Finance
2017–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
2018–2019 		Succeeded by
Himself
as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs
Preceded by
Himself
as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs 		Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs
2019–2020 		Succeeded by
New title Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
2020–2022 		Succeeded byas Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention