Duncan Spender
{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox MP
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Duncan Spender
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
|office1 = Senator for New South Wales
| term_start1 = 20 March 2019
| term_end1 = 30 June 2019
| predecessor1 = David Leyonhjelm
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|6|18|df=y}}{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/Committees/Senate/committee/interests_ctte/citizenship%20register/SpenderDuncan_Cstat_190424.pdf?la=en|title=Citizenship Register: Spender, Senator Duncan – Senator for New South Wales|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=26 May 2019}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
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| resting_place_coordinates =
| party = Liberal Democrats
| otherparty = Independent
}}
Duncan Peter James Spender (born 18 June 1975) is a former Australian politician. He briefly served as a Senator for New South Wales in 2019, filling a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democrats. He had previously been Leyonhjelm's chief of staff.
Early life
Spender was born in Brisbane. He is the son of former Federal Court (and Industrial Court) judge, Jeffrey Spender.{{cn|date=October 2020}}
Spender was a founding member of the Liberal Democratic Party in 2001.{{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Heath |title=The party accused of forgetting women: Liberal Democrats call for 'more chicks' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-party-accused-of-forgetting-women-liberal-democrats-call-for-more-chicks-20160609-gpf68x.html |access-date=20 March 2019 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=9 June 2016 |language=en}} Before his appointment to the Senate, Spender worked as Leyonhjelm's chief of staff and senior adviser, and as the party's treasurer.{{cite news |title=Chief of staff lands former senator's job |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/chief-of-staff-lands-former-senator-s-job |access-date=21 March 2019 |work=SBS News |date=21 March 2019 |language=en}}
Senate
Spender was appointed to the Senate on 20 March 2019, following Leyonhjelm's decision to resign to contest the Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election. As the Parliament of New South Wales was dissolved for the election, Spender's appointment was made by the Governor, David Hurley,{{cite web |last1=@SenatorRyan |title=I have been advised that His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley (Ret'd), Governor of New South Wales has, pursuant to section 15 of the Constitution, appointed Duncan Spender to fill the Senate vacancy for caused by the resignation of David Leyonhjelm. |url=https://twitter.com/SenatorRyan/status/1108273201321136128 |website=Twitter |access-date=20 March 2019}} with the appointment to be endorsed by the parliament in its next session.{{cite web |last1=@SenatorRyan |title=The appointment took effect immediately, but needed to be endorsed within 14 days of the commencement of the next session of the NSW Parliament. |url=https://twitter.com/SenatorRyan/status/1108273278508916737 |website=Twitter |access-date=20 March 2019}} This occurred on 8 May 2019.{{cite web |url=http://www.medianet.com.au/releases/175181/ |title=NSW Senator appointment brings respite for civil liberties and taxpayers |newspaper=Medianet |publisher=Australian Associated Press |date=8 May 2019 |access-date=26 May 2019}}
Spender's seat was for a term that ended on 30 June 2019.{{Cite Au Parliament |name=Former Senator Duncan Spender |mpid=244276 |access-date=15 November 2021}} He sat in the Senate for just two days, and Senate Estimates for two days.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/meet-duncan-spender-poised-to-become-one-of-australia-s-shortest-serving-senators-20190321-p51658.html |title=Meet Duncan Spender, poised to become one of Australia's shortest-serving senators |first=Michael |last=Koziol |date=22 March 2019 |access-date=22 March 2019 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} He was a candidate at the 2019 Australian federal election, but was not successful, ending the LDP's representation in the Senate.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate |title=Senate Results (NSW) |publisher=ABC |access-date=26 May 2019 |work=Australia Votes }}
Post-politics
In November 2019 Spender was appointed CEO of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-29/tasmania-multicultural-board-criticised-over-board-changes/12501406|title=Fears proposed changes to Tasmania's Multicultural Council could leave communities without a voice|work=ABC News|date=29 July 2020|access-date=9 October 2020}}
Spender unsuccessfully ran as a candidate in the 2022 Hobart City Council election.