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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.

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10 hours ago
Senator David Fawcett

The Swedish Government recently announced a roadmap for new nuclear energy, which will see a “massive expansion of new nuclear power,” probably equivalent to ten large-scale reactors, by 2045.

Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson explained: "New nuclear power is necessary for a stable and reliable energy system, for both consumers and businesses.” She added that the last few years have demonstrated just how inexpensively new nuclear projects can be constructed.The lived experience of nations like Canada—and authoritative research from bodies like the OECD—shows that nuclear energy is essential if we are to maintain energy reliability and affordability in the transition to net zero. It’s time for Australia’s decades-old ban on civil nuclear power to be repealed.Read my op-ed on the subject here: senatorfawcett.com.au/2023/10/nuclear-unaffordable-we-cant-afford-not-to/ ... See MoreSee Less

The Swedish Government recently announced a roadmap for new nuclear energy, which will see a “massive expansion of new nuclear power,” probably equivalent to ten large-scale reactors, by 2045.

Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson explained: New nuclear power is necessary for a stable and reliable energy system, for both consumers and businesses.” She added that the last few years have demonstrated just how inexpensively new nuclear projects can be constructed.

The lived experience of nations like Canada—and authoritative research from bodies like the OECD—shows that nuclear energy is essential if we are to maintain energy reliability and affordability in the transition to net zero. 

It’s time for Australia’s decades-old ban on civil nuclear power to be repealed.

Read my op-ed on the subject here: https://senatorfawcett.com.au/2023/10/nuclear-unaffordable-we-cant-afford-not-to/

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Australia should be doing the same ie no pollution

1 day ago
Senator David Fawcett

The second Annual Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN) Policy Symposium & Sovereign Capability Showcase was held recently at Parliament House.

AIDN represents 1,500 Australian small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) who support the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence and employ tens of thousands of workers across the country, including in my home state of South Australia. The AIDN Policy Symposium and Sovereign Capability Showcase was an opportunity to highlight the critical role that sovereign defence industry and innovation contributes to our nation’s ongoing security and defence.The CEO of AIDN recently highlighted the dire circumstances facing many Australia Defence businesses due to the extended delays to Defence procurement caused by the ongoing reviews and reorganisation within Defence that are impacting on the urgent expansion of military capabilities that both the Defence Strategic Update of 2020 and the Defence Strategic Review 2023 called for. Carl Quarterman (pictured) is Chair of the AIDN Board. ... See MoreSee Less

The second Annual Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN) Policy Symposium & Sovereign Capability Showcase was held recently at Parliament House. 

AIDN represents 1,500 Australian small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) who support the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Defence and employ tens of thousands of workers across the country, including in my home state of South Australia. 

The AIDN Policy Symposium and Sovereign Capability Showcase was an opportunity to highlight the critical role that sovereign defence industry and innovation contributes to our nation’s ongoing security and defence.

The CEO of AIDN recently highlighted the dire circumstances facing many Australia Defence businesses due to the extended delays to Defence procurement caused by the ongoing reviews and reorganisation within Defence that are impacting on the urgent expansion of military capabilities that both the Defence Strategic Update of 2020 and the Defence Strategic Review 2023 called for. 

Carl Quarterman (pictured) is Chair of the AIDN Board.

Keeping Kids Safe Online: Petition

Following the release of the 2020 “Protecting the Age of Innocence” report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, the former Coalition Government asked the eSafety Commissioner to provide a roadmap on age verification.The Commissioner recommended that an age verification trial be conducted by the Government; however, this recommendation was rejected by the current Albanese Government—sparking condemnation from a range of child and women’s safety advocates.A Dutton federal Coalition Government would invest $6.7 million in carrying out an age verification trial to protect children from harmful content online.If you support this initiative, please sign the “Keeping Kids Safe Online” petition: www.research.net/r/6ZFRH3P ... See MoreSee Less

Keeping Kids Safe Online: Petition

Following the release of the 2020 “Protecting the Age of Innocence” report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, the former Coalition Government asked the eSafety Commissioner to provide a roadmap on age verification.

The Commissioner recommended that an age verification trial be conducted by the Government; however, this recommendation was rejected by the current Albanese Government—sparking condemnation from a range of child and women’s safety advocates.

A Dutton federal Coalition Government would invest $6.7 million in carrying out an age verification trial to protect children from harmful content online.

If you support this initiative, please sign the “Keeping Kids Safe Online” petition: https://www.research.net/r/6ZFRH3PImage attachment
1 week ago
Senator David Fawcett

As the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel, Senator Deborah O'Neill and I hosted a private briefing this week for members and senators on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

It was a powerful opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from the families of some of those who were murdered or are currently being held hostage by the listed terrorist group Hamas.You can find my statement on the conflict on my website: senatorfawcett.com.au/2023/10/statement-on-attacks-on-israel-by-terrorist-group-hamas/ ... See MoreSee Less

As the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel, Senator Deborah ONeill and I hosted a private briefing this week for members and senators on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

It was a powerful opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from the families of some of those who were murdered or are currently being held hostage by the listed terrorist group Hamas.

You can find my statement on the conflict on my website: https://senatorfawcett.com.au/2023/10/statement-on-attacks-on-israel-by-terrorist-group-hamas/Image attachmentImage attachment
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