fbpx

About David

David served in the Australian Defence Force for over 22 years. An Army pilot, he flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and was the Senior Flying Instructor at the School of Army Aviation in Queensland.

Graduating as an experimental test pilot from the Empire Test Pilots’ School (UK), he finished his full time career in Defence as the Commanding Officer of the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit.

Elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Wakefield (SA) in 2004, he served in the Parliament until 2007. David continued to fly as a test pilot and ran a small business working in the Defence and Aviation sectors prior to being elected to the Senate in 2010, 2016 and again in 2019.

In the (45th) Parliament, David was sworn as the Assistant Minister for Defence.

Social Media

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Senator David Fawcett

2 days ago

Senator David Fawcett

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) was in South Australia yesterday to visit the recently completed Osborne South Naval Shipyard complex - the location for the build of Australia’s 9 Hunter Class Frigates. The Australian Government is investing $270 billion in Australia’s defence capability over the next decade, in response to changing strategic circumstances in our region. The flow on from this investment and innovation is long-term jobs being created locally and sustained throughout SA’s defence industry and relevant supply chains.As they welcome their 1,000th employee on the Hunter Class Frigate program before the end of the year, lead contractor BAE Systems Australia have confirmed they expect to hire approximately 1,000 additional staff to work on the frigates in 2021 – with the prototyping phase beginning in December.For more information on roles available with BAE Systems Australia: careers.au.baesystems.com ... See MoreSee Less

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (ScoMo) was in South Australia yesterday to visit the recently completed Osborne South Naval Shipyard complex - the location for the build of Australia’s 9 Hunter Class Frigates. The Australian Government is investing $270 billion in Australia’s defence capability over the next decade, in response to changing strategic circumstances in our region. The flow on from this investment and innovation is long-term jobs being created locally and sustained throughout SA’s defence industry and relevant supply chains. As they welcome their 1,000th employee on the Hunter Class Frigate program before the end of the year, lead contractor BAE Systems Australia have confirmed they expect to hire approximately 1,000 additional staff to work on the frigates in 2021 – with the prototyping phase beginning in December. For more information on roles available with BAE Systems Australia: https://careers.au.baesystems.comImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
View Comments
  • Likes: 22
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Tom Nesbitt Mark Shackleton

Senator David Fawcett is at Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia.

2 days ago

Senator David Fawcett

After a delay due to COVID-19, great to have the 2020 ‘Setting a New Course’ sailing program for veterans underway again yesterday.A big thank you to the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Invictus Pathways Program for making this possible as well as support from Raytheon Technologies Australia and Saab Australia. ... See MoreSee Less

After a delay due to COVID-19, great to have the 2020 ‘Setting a New Course’ sailing program for veterans underway again yesterday. A big thank you to the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Invictus Pathways Program for making this possible as well as support from Raytheon Technologies Australia and Saab Australia.Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment
View Comments
  • Likes: 35
  • Shares: 2
  • Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

Everything is coming back to normal

Senator David Fawcett

4 days ago

Senator David Fawcett

This morning, I addressed participants of The University of Adelaide’s Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership Program. The Defence Industry Leadership Program is a targeted and practical professional development program that provides employees in the defence industry with the opportunity to develop their personal and professional leadership skills. The program attracts participants from all levels of organisations and from a wide range of sectors connected to the defence industry, including Defence Primes, SMEs, State and Federal Government agencies, professional services and other connected industry sectors.The growth of the defence sector over the last decade, and the growth to be experienced over the coming decade, requires the defence industry to accelerate the expansion, skills and capability of its workforce. This includes a need for defence employees to focus on leadership education, and personal and professional development.Since its inception in 2010, over 242 industry participants have graduated from the program. I had the opportunity to speak with this intake about the role and importance of industry in developing sovereign capability.More information on the Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership: bit.ly/3301TV0 ... See MoreSee Less

This morning, I addressed participants of The University of Adelaide’s Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership Program. The Defence Industry Leadership Program is a targeted and practical professional development program that provides employees in the defence industry with the opportunity to develop their personal and professional leadership skills. The program attracts participants from all levels of organisations and from a wide range of sectors connected to the defence industry, including Defence Primes, SMEs, State and Federal Government agencies, professional services and other connected industry sectors. The growth of the defence sector over the last decade, and the growth to be experienced over the coming decade, requires the defence industry to accelerate the expansion, skills and capability of its workforce. This includes a need for defence employees to focus on leadership education, and personal and professional development. Since its inception in 2010, over 242 industry participants have graduated from the program. I had the opportunity to speak with this intake about the role and importance of industry in developing sovereign capability. More information on the Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership: https://bit.ly/3301TV0Image attachment
View Comments
  • Likes: 34
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

Excellent work David, it was a great program last year and no doubt the participants this year would have benefited from your engagement.

Tom Nesbitt Mark Shackleton

Senator David Fawcett

4 days ago

Senator David Fawcett

SAAB AUSTRALIA TO DEVELOP ADF’s DEPLOYABLE HEALTH CAPABILITYAnnounced yesterday by Defence Minister Senator Linda Reynolds, Saab Australia is developing and sustaining deployable military and humanitarian hospitals for Australia’s Defence Force, as part of a $337 million contract with Defence Australia.Headquartered in Mawson Lakes, Saab Australia is creating more than 550 deployable health modules (as pictured) over the course of the 5-year contract which will provide deployed troops with the high-quality clinical care, wherever they are in the world.Saab have also confirmed that it is relocating its global Deployable Health System Design and Development Centre from Europe to Australia and creating 50 new full-time positions, which enables approximately $240 million of the contract value to be spent in Australia, while utilising Saab’s world-class expertise.Australian businesses Aspen Medical Australia and Broadspectrum are also partnering with Saab in this project.More information on this announcement: bit.ly/3cCLl97 ... See MoreSee Less

SAAB AUSTRALIA TO DEVELOP ADF’s DEPLOYABLE HEALTH CAPABILITY Announced yesterday by Defence Minister Senator Linda Reynolds, Saab Australia is developing and sustaining deployable military and humanitarian hospitals for Australia’s Defence Force, as part of a $337 million contract with Defence Australia. Headquartered in Mawson Lakes, Saab Australia is creating more than 550 deployable health modules (as pictured) over the course of the 5-year contract which will provide deployed troops with the high-quality clinical care, wherever they are in the world. Saab have also confirmed that it is relocating its global Deployable Health System Design and Development Centre from Europe to Australia and creating 50 new full-time positions, which enables approximately $240 million of the contract value to be spent in Australia, while utilising Saab’s world-class expertise. Australian businesses Aspen Medical Australia and Broadspectrum are also partnering with Saab in this project. More information on this announcement: https://bit.ly/3cCLl97Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
View Comments
  • Likes: 45
  • Shares: 3
  • Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

Pretty flash for an RDS 👌

Tom Nesbitt Mark Shackleton

Senator David Fawcett

5 days ago

Senator David Fawcett

Australia is experiencing a significant increase in the frequency, scale and sophistication of malicious cyber security attacks – targeting critical infrastructure, business, defence and government agencies, among others. Between July 2019 and June 2020, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received more than 160 cybercrime reports lodged each day, and response was necessary for approximately 2,300 cyber security incidents to protect Australians and Australian interests. The Australian Government and industry are working to strengthening our nation’s cyber security in order to keep Australians secure online, protect and strengthen the security and resilience of Australia’s critical infrastructure and ensure law enforcement agencies have the powers and technical capabilities to detect, target, investigate and disrupt cybercrime. Recent government and industry initiatives include: ✔️The SA Defence Cyber Security Forum took place this week at Lot Fourteen, hosted by Defence SA in collaboration with AustCyber - the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (A3C), to help businesses build cyber resilience and enhance their defence supply chain prospects. More information: bit.ly/33TShuf✔️ IBM and Soldier On Australia announced SkillsBuild, a new free online learning platform with the goal of upskilling 3,000 veterans, allowing them to transition into jobs in high demand sectors – such as cyber security. More information: bit.ly/2F8RYmw✔️Telstra, the ACSC and Services Australia have jointly developed a pilot program to identify and reject phishing text messages, which impersonate myGov and Centrelink, before they reach Telstra customers. More information: bit.ly/2FZQ7kC✔️Australian cyber companies – Cydarm, Elttam, Penten, Retrospect Labs and Fifth Domain – have collaborated on a cyber training platform for the Australian Defence Force. More information: bit.ly/3cpgA7aFurther building on the strong foundations established by the 2016 Strategy, the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy outlines the largest ever Australian Government financial commitment to cyber security – $1.67 billion over the next 10 years. More information on the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy: bit.ly/3kko4fh ... See MoreSee Less

Australia is experiencing a significant increase in the frequency, scale and sophistication of malicious cyber security attacks – targeting critical infrastructure, business, defence and government agencies, among others. Between July 2019 and June 2020, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received more than 160 cybercrime reports lodged each day, and response was necessary for approximately 2,300 cyber security incidents to protect Australians and Australian interests. The Australian Government and industry are working to strengthening our nation’s cyber security in order to keep Australians secure online, protect and strengthen the security and resilience of Australia’s critical infrastructure and ensure law enforcement agencies have the powers and technical capabilities to detect, target, investigate and disrupt cybercrime. Recent government and industry initiatives include: ✔️The SA Defence Cyber Security Forum took place this week at Lot Fourteen, hosted by Defence SA in collaboration with AustCyber - the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network and the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (A3C), to help businesses build cyber resilience and enhance their defence supply chain prospects. More information: https://bit.ly/33TShuf ✔️ IBM and Soldier On Australia announced SkillsBuild, a new free online learning platform with the goal of upskilling 3,000 veterans, allowing them to transition into jobs in high demand sectors – such as cyber security. More information: https://bit.ly/2F8RYmw ✔️Telstra, the ACSC and Services Australia have jointly developed a pilot program to identify and reject phishing text messages, which impersonate myGov and Centrelink, before they reach Telstra customers. More information: https://bit.ly/2FZQ7kC ✔️Australian cyber companies – Cydarm, Elttam, Penten, Retrospect Labs and Fifth Domain – have collaborated on a cyber training platform for the Australian Defence Force. More information: https://bit.ly/3cpgA7a Further building on the strong foundations established by the 2016 Strategy, the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy outlines the largest ever Australian Government financial commitment to cyber security – $1.67 billion over the next 10 years. More information on the 2020 Cyber Security Strategy: https://bit.ly/3kko4fh
View Comments
  • Likes: 20
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Can you please tell us why you have not put your support behind South Australian and pushed to keep Full Cycle Maintenance here in SA? www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=AAWEB_WRE170_a_FBK&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ade...

Load more

Latest News

In The Senate