David Thomson (Australian National Party politician)

This article is about the member for Leichhardt (1975–1983). For the member for Capricornia (1903–1906), see David Thomson (Labor Party politician).

Brigadier David Scott Thomson MC (21 November 1924 – 13 October 2013) was an Australian soldier and politician.

The Honourable David Thomson MC
Minister for Science and Technology
In office 3 November 1980 – 11 March 1983
Preceded by	Himself
Succeeded by	Barry Jones
Minister for Science and the Environment
In office 8 December 1979 – 3 November 1980
Preceded by	James Webster
Succeeded by	Bob Ellicott (Environment) Himself (Science)
Member of the Australian Parliament for Leichhardt
In office 13 December 1975 – 5 March 1983
Preceded by	Bill Fulton
Succeeded by	John Gayler
Personal details
Born	(1924-11-21)21 November 1924 Sale, Victoria
Died	13 October 2013(2013-10-13) (aged 88) Batemans Bay, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Political party	National Party of Australia
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1942–1975
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1964–66)
Battles/wars	Second World War New Guinea campaign Korean War Operation Blaze Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Awards	Military Cross[1] Mentioned in despatches[2]

Early life and military career

He was born in Sale, Victoria in 1924. He enlisted in the Australian Army in 1942, and graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, being commissioned as an officer in 1943. He saw active service in the Second World War in the South-West Pacific, took part in the landing at Balikpapan, New Guinea, and served in Japan 1946–48. He was on active service again in Korea in 1951, where he was awarded the Military Cross. He served in Malaysia and Sarawak during the Malayan Emergency 1965–66. From 1967 to 1970 he was Director of Infantry and Regimental Colonel of the Royal Australian Regiment.

Politics

From 1972 to 1975 he operated a tourism business. He was the National Country Party (later the National Party) member for the House of Representatives seat of Leichhardt, Queensland, from the 1975 election until his defeat by John Gayler at the 1983 election.^[3][4] He was Minister for Science and the Environment from December 1979 until November 1980 and then Minister for Science and Technology until the Fraser government's defeat at the 1983 election.^[5]

In 1985, David Thomson took part in an oral history interview for the Parliamentary Bicentenary Publications Project recorded by his son, historian Alistair Thomson.^[6]

Later life and death

He died in Batemans Bay, New South Wales on 13 October 2013, aged 88.^[7][8]