David Gibson (Australian politician)

Born in Fremantle, Western Australia, as the eldest of two children to deaf parents. As a child of deaf adults he took on the role of interpreting for his parents to help them communicate in a hearing world.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

Gibson began his military career in 1985 as an Army Reserve private in the West Australian University Regiment while still at high school. In 1986 he entered the Royal Military College Duntroon and graduated serving as an Army officer for 8½ years before embarking on a career in media marketing and management.{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefgibson/|title=David Gibson LinkedIn}} In 2001 he started working for the APN newspaper NewsMail as its newspaper sales and marketing manager. In June 2004 he was promoted as to the position of general manager of the APN publication The Gympie Times in Gympie, Queensland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/elections/qld/2006/guide/gymp.htm|title=Gympie Profile|last=Green|first=Antony|date=2006-09-07|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-07-06}}

Gibson was elected to the Queensland Parliament at the September 2006 state election, winning the safe independent seat of Gympie for the National Party from a field of seven candidates. In the 52nd Parliament he served on the Public Accounts Committee. Promoted to shadow cabinet 16 months after entering Parliament he took on the responsibilities as Shadow Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change & Innovation, and Shadow Minister for Clean Energy Strategy.

After his re-election in the March 2009 state election, the electorate of Gympie was the safest seat in the Parliament according to the post-election pendulum. He held the senior portfolio as the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Planning until September 2010.

Gibson was the first member of any Parliament in Australia to give a maiden speech in sign language and many give him credit for lobbying to bring the National Week of Deaf People activities into the Parliament, including the provisions of interpreters for question time and a debate between members of the deaf community and members of parliament on disability issues in 2009.{{cite news| url=http://news.smh.com.au/national/deaf-community-invited-to-parliament-20071017-14st.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=17 October 2007 | title=Deaf community invited to parliament}} David was also the first MP to engage a deaf student as an intern.{{Cite web |date=2008-08-27 |title=Australian First |url=http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2008/08/27/apn-australian-first-twice-for/ |website=Gympie Times}}

Prior to the 2012 state election, Gibson was the Shadow Minister for Local Government and the Shadow Minister for Sport. Following the LNP's winning government in the 2012 state election he was promoted to minister for Police and Community Safety.{{cite web |url=http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78933 |title=Premier announces new Ministry |work=Department of Premier and Cabinet |date=30 March 2012 |accessdate=30 March 2012 |archive-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806105231/http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=78933 |url-status=dead }} He resigned in April 2012 when it was revealed that he had been caught driving while unlicensed.{{Cite web |title=Police Minister resigns |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/qld-police-minister-gibson-resigns/8c9b4001-5170-43d5-b31c-8b44b81dc5aa |website=9 News}}

On 18 July 2012, the Newman government unveiled a plan to reinvigorate the Mary Valley, after the previous Labor Government's failed Traveston Crossing Dam project, and appointed Gibson to chair the Mary Valley Economic Development Advisory Group.{{Cite web |last=Seeney |first=Jeff |date=2012-07-18 |title=New vision for Mary Valley’s future |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/69875 |website=Queensland Government}}

On 15 November 2012, Gibson was appointed to chair the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee.{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Campbell |date=2012-11-15 |title=David Gibson appointed to new role |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/70951}}

In his valedictory speech on the 27 November 2014 he said to parliament using Auslan "I use sign language to remind us all that we come here to give a voice to those who elect us. We must be true to them."{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=David |date=2014-11-27 |title=Valedictory Speech |url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/speeches/spk2014/David_Gibson-Gympie-20141127-423218995071.pdf |website=Queensland Parliament Hansard}}

Gibson was often described as a vocal progressive moderate within the Liberal National Party,{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=David |date=2012-06-21 |title=Civil Union Debate |url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/Speeches/spk2012/David%20Gibson%20spk%20Gympie%202012_06_21_99.pdf#search=(AUTHOR%20CONTAINS%20(David%20Gibson))%20OR%20FILENAME(David%20Gibson%20spk*)%20AND%20homophobic%20ads |website=Queensland Parliament Hansard}} particularly during the civil union debate in Queensland.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/gay-issue-fires-up-parliament-david-gibson/1428015/|title=Gay issue fires up parliament|newspaper=The Courier Mail|date=22 June 2012|language=en|access-date=2019-07-06}} In 2010, Hansard records his support for "having the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex made the same age" and that "There is no reason we should discriminate between male and female and between gay and straight."{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=David |date=2010-02-10 |title=Surrogacy Bill |url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/Speeches/spk2010/David%20Gibson%20spk%20Gympie%202010_02_10_72.pdf#search=Queensland%20Parliamentary%20Member%20AND%20(AUTHOR%20CONTAINS%20(David%20Gibson))%20OR%20FILENAME(David%20Gibson%20spk*)%20AND%20same%20sex |website=Queensland Parliament Hansard}}

Gibson claimed he was targeted by his colleagues for these and other progressive views,{{Cite news|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/gympie-mp-claims-police-officer-delivered-death-th/2281618/|title=Gympie MP claims police officer 'delivered death threats'|newspaper=The Courier Mail|date=5 June 2014|language=en|access-date=2019-07-06|last1=Remeikis|first1=By Amy}} which led to a nervous breakdown, resulting in him not contesting the 2015 state election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/member-for-gympie-david-gibson-quits-politics-with-nervous-breakdown-following-controversy/news-story/1d7e2976b9c15798cbaac2bfcdb59581|title=Nervous breakdown claims MP|date=2014-05-02|newspaper=The Courier Mail|language=en|access-date=2019-07-06|last1=Vogler|first1=Sarah|last2=Fraser|first2=Kelmeny}} After politics Gibson advocated for mental health care and in 2021 revealed how he was driven towards suicide by an internecine plot within his own party to oust him from politics.{{Cite news |title=Former Newman MP's suicide shock as new love revealed |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/former-newman-government-mps-suicide-shock-as-new-love-revealed/news-story/4ade56f640ae1c723ee4d09db00300e6 |access-date=19 March 2021 |work=www.couriermail.com.au |url-access=subscription }}

Gibson also faced a number of controversies during his time as a Member of Parliament, including historical allegations of theft from his time in the Australian Army in the 1990s,{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/call-for-gympie-mp-david-gibson-to-resign-over-7000-theft/5405364|title=Call for Gympie MP David Gibson to resign over $7,000 theft|date=2014-04-23|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-02-13}} and of unlicensed driving and of a speeding fine from before he was Police Minister.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/police-minister-resigns-after-less-than-a-fortnight-in-job-20120416-1x3t2.html|title=Police minister resigns after less than a fortnight in job|last=Hurst|first=Daniel|date=2012-04-16|website=Brisbane Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}

Since retiring from the Queensland Parliament, Gibson has remained active on various not-for-profit boards while continuing his advocacy and volunteer work both nationally and internationally. He has spoken on the global stage, presenting at the World Federation of the Deaf conference in Budapest in 2017,{{Cite web |date=2017-11-08 |title=WFD Program 2017 Budapest |url=https://congressline.hu/wfd2017/pdf/WFD2017-final-program.pdf |website=World Federation of the Deaf}} and the CODA International Conference in San Diego in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-29 |title=CODALeague Year Book 2024|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WJg8egwNZuE5uOfgY_9xFIybvkrn5tkh/view}}

Gibson has also authored several articles, including "Disability, Inclusion and Democracy – an Uncomfortable Fit" and, more recently, "Queering Up the Debate: Freedom of Speech Seen Through a LGBTI Lens" in 2023. His volunteer work has included roles in DFAT-funded aid programs, and he has chaired the committee overseeing the restructuring of CODA International for global representation.https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14396040/

He has also had various articles published, including "Disability, Inclusion and Democracy - an Uncomfortable Fit"{{Cite journal |last=Gibson |first=David |date=2015-04-01 |title=Disability, Inclusion and Democracy – an Uncomfortable Fit |url=https://www.aspg.org.au/a-p-r-journals-2/australasian-parliamentary-review-springsummer-2015-vol-30-no-1/ |journal=Australasian Parliamentary Review |volume=30, No 1 |issue=Autumn/Winter |pages=154 - 161}} in the journal of the Australasian Study of Parliament Group and "Queering Up the Debate: Freedom of Speech seen through a LGBTI lens".{{Cite journal |last=Gibson |first=David |title=Queering Up the Debate: Freedom of Speech seen through a LGBTI lens |url=https://www.aspg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Queering-Up-the-Debate-Freedom-of-Speech-seen-through-a-LGBTI-lens.pdf |journal=Australian Parliamentary Review |volume=38 No 2 |issue=Spring/Summer |pages=51-57}} 

In 2024, Gibson took on the role of Deaf Advocacy and Empowerment Mentor at the Wangsel Institute for the Deaf in Bhutan as part of the Australian Volunteers International program.{{Cite web|title=Welcome new volunteers to Bhutan |url=https://www.facebook.com/ausvols/posts/pfbid02oGwpAmVhSKdX4FmwJSwthrSsgC4ogRE48gFFnE3p2beo4TEihHg6tf9AM835M6HBl|access-date=2024-10-02|website=Facebook|language=en}}

As a volunteer, Gibson's work focused on three main objectives:

• Enhancing the advocacy skills of Deaf individuals, enabling them to engage in personal, individual, and systematic advocacy.
• Laying the foundation for the establishment of a Deaf organisation in Bhutan, with the goal of joining the World Federation of the Deaf.
• Empowering Deaf individuals in Bhutan to become role models within their local communities and across the country.

Gibson’s work has been instrumental in supporting the Bhutanese Deaf community in its efforts to establish a Bhutan Deaf Organisation to achieve greater inclusivity and recognition on both a national and international level.https://www.signs-of-serenity.com/daily-life-in-bhutan/why-volunteer

Gibson currently serves on the board and as Chair of GRAI - GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc.{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Michael |date=2023-02-28 |title=Letter from the Chair |url=https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?u=aac601640b0c32b784bde297e&id=16174cde54 |archive-url=}} In 2024 the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP appointed Mr Gibson to the National Carer Strategy Advisory Committee.https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-carers/national-carer-strategy-advisory-committee

He has also served as the chairman of Deaf Services{{Cite web|url=http://www.deafservicesqld.org.au/news/deaf-services-queensland-experiences-stellar-growth-new-chairman-named|title=DEAF SERVICES QUEENSLAND EXPERIENCES STELLAR GROWTH AS NEW CHAIRMAN NAMED|website=Deaf Services Queensland|accessdate=2015-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208042707/http://www.deafservicesqld.org.au/news/deaf-services-queensland-experiences-stellar-growth-new-chairman-named|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}} a not for profit company working with the community to enhance services and programs that benefit deaf and hard of hearing across Australia, and as chairman of Jacaranda Housing, a non-profit, community housing provider in Brisbane.{{Cite web|url=http://jacarandahousing.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2018-Final-Annual-Report-including-Financials.pdf|title=Jacaranda Housing 2018 Annual Report}} and on the board of Valued Lives.{{Cite web |title=Valued Lives Board |url=https://valuedlives.org.au/about/ |website=Valued Lives}}

He is also a former director of Deafness Forum,{{Cite web |url=http://deafnessforum.org.au/executive |title=Executive | Deafness Forum |access-date=20 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406094132/http://www.deafnessforum.org.au/executive |archive-date=6 April 2018 |url-status=dead }} a national peak body representing the interests and viewpoints of the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind communities, and former chair of the Queensland Chapter of the Australasian Study of Parliament Group, a non-partisan body to encourage and stimulate research, writing and teaching about parliamentary institutions in Australia to generate a better understanding of their functions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/aspg/executive.htm|title = ASPG - QLD Events}}

In 2015 he took on a 2-year role as the executive director of the Gympie Music Muster, an Australian music festival held in the Amamoor Creek State Forest near Gympie, Queensland.{{Cite news|title=New Music Muster CEO and recording studio|url=https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/new-music-muster-ceo-dr-rock-independent/2566419/|access-date=2019-07-06|newspaper=The Courier Mail|date=6 March 2015|language=en}} In 2017 he became the CEO of Access Plus WA Deaf (the former WA Deaf Society Inc){{Cite web|title=WA Deaf Society New CEO|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1894270774123781|access-date=2020-06-17|website=Facebook|language=en}} and finished in that role in April 2020.

• Politics of Australia

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly

Category:Liberal National Party of Queensland politicians

Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Queensland

Category:Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates

Category:People from Fremantle

Category:21st-century Australian politicians