Philip Davis
Encyclopedia
Philip Rivers Davis is an Australia
n politician. He has been a Liberal
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
since October 1992, representing Gippsland Province until 2006 and the Eastern Victoria Region since. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from December 2002 to February 2008, and was a shadow minister from 1999 to February 2008.
Davis was born in the rural town of Maffra
, but attended the elite Brighton
and Geelong Grammar School
s in Melbourne
and Geelong respectively. He studied in farm management, and worked as a jackaroo
, farm manager, and then self-employed farmer. In the 1980s, he moved into business, becoming a company director, although he retired from his directorships after being elected to parliament. During the 1980s, Davis also became actively involved with the Victorian Farmers Federation, becoming the president of its Gippsland branch.
Davis had joined the Liberal Party in the 1970s, soon rising to become the president of his local branch of the Young Liberal Movement. By 1978, he had become president of the main party branch. He made two unsuccessful attempts at entering parliament, with a 1979 run for the Victorian Legislative Assembly
seat of Gippsland East
, and a 1983 bid for the federal seat of Gippsland
. In 1992, in his third attempt at entering parliament, Davis won Liberal pre-selection for the Legislative Council seat of Gippsland Province, and was ultimately successful.
In his first four years in office, Davis sat on the Economic Development Committee, but remained on the backbenches. After retaining power at the 1996 state election (though Davis was not up for election, as Legislative Councillors only come up for election every eight years), Premier Jeff Kennett
promoted Davis to the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources. He also switched to the Legislative Council Privileges Committee.
When Kennett was defeated in a surprise result at the 1999 election, numerous changes were made to the Liberal ministerial lineup. Davis was re-elected, and subsequently became the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Ports. After the Liberal wipeout at the 2002 election, in which numerous members of the Liberal ministry lost their seats, Davis was again promoted, becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council a position he held to February 2008. In January 2004, Davis was given responsibility for two additional portfolios - agriculture (to December 2005) and country Victoria (to December 2006). He was shadow minister for state development and energy and resources from December 2005 to December 2006. He was responsible for education from December 2006 until August 2007, when he took responsibility for finance and manufacturing, exports and trade. He returned to the backbench in February 2008.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He has been a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
since October 1992, representing Gippsland Province until 2006 and the Eastern Victoria Region since. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from December 2002 to February 2008, and was a shadow minister from 1999 to February 2008.
Davis was born in the rural town of Maffra
Maffra, Victoria
Maffra is a town in Victoria, Australia, 220 km east of Melbourne. It is in the Shire of Wellington local government area. It relies mainly on dairy farming and other agriculture, and is the site of one of Murray-Goulburn Cooperative's eight processing plants in Victoria...
, but attended the elite Brighton
Brighton Grammar School
Brighton Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day school for boys, located in Brighton, a south-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
and Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
s in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Geelong respectively. He studied in farm management, and worked as a jackaroo
Jackaroo (trainee)
A Jackaroo is a young man working on a sheep or cattle station, to gain practical experience in the skills needed to become an owner, overseer, manager, etc. The word originated in Queensland, Australia in the Nineteenth Century and is still in use in Australia and New Zealand in the twenty-first...
, farm manager, and then self-employed farmer. In the 1980s, he moved into business, becoming a company director, although he retired from his directorships after being elected to parliament. During the 1980s, Davis also became actively involved with the Victorian Farmers Federation, becoming the president of its Gippsland branch.
Davis had joined the Liberal Party in the 1970s, soon rising to become the president of his local branch of the Young Liberal Movement. By 1978, he had become president of the main party branch. He made two unsuccessful attempts at entering parliament, with a 1979 run for the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
seat of Gippsland East
Electoral district of Gippsland East
The Electoral district of Gippsland East is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It covers most of eastern Victoria and includes the towns of Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Omeo, Maffra and Heyfield....
, and a 1983 bid for the federal seat of Gippsland
Division of Gippsland
The Division of Gippsland is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria, which in turn is named for Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales...
. In 1992, in his third attempt at entering parliament, Davis won Liberal pre-selection for the Legislative Council seat of Gippsland Province, and was ultimately successful.
In his first four years in office, Davis sat on the Economic Development Committee, but remained on the backbenches. After retaining power at the 1996 state election (though Davis was not up for election, as Legislative Councillors only come up for election every eight years), Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
promoted Davis to the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources. He also switched to the Legislative Council Privileges Committee.
When Kennett was defeated in a surprise result at the 1999 election, numerous changes were made to the Liberal ministerial lineup. Davis was re-elected, and subsequently became the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Ports. After the Liberal wipeout at the 2002 election, in which numerous members of the Liberal ministry lost their seats, Davis was again promoted, becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council a position he held to February 2008. In January 2004, Davis was given responsibility for two additional portfolios - agriculture (to December 2005) and country Victoria (to December 2006). He was shadow minister for state development and energy and resources from December 2005 to December 2006. He was responsible for education from December 2006 until August 2007, when he took responsibility for finance and manufacturing, exports and trade. He returned to the backbench in February 2008.