David Ean Leyonhjelm ( "lion-helm"; born 1 April 1952) is an Australian former politician. He was a Senator for New South Wales, representing the Liberal Democratic Party from 2014 to 2019. Having been elected at the 2013 federal election, he took office on 1 July 2014, and was re-elected in the 2016 full Senate election. He resigned from the Senate in March 2019 to stand for the Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election, but failed to be elected. Before being elected to federal parliament, Leyonhjelm worked as a veterinarian and then as an agribusiness consultant. He also writes columns for several Australian publications, with a concentration on rural issues.
Personal life and business career David Leyonhjelm was born in Nhill in the Wimmera, in western Victoria and was raised in Heywood, on the dairy farm of his parents Bryan and Jean Leyonhjelm.Sean McComish (8 October 2013). "Few people in Australia had heard of David Leyonhjelm" – The Warrnambool Standard. Retrieved 6 May 2014. The family is of Swedish noble origin; the 'Leijonhielm' barony was granted in 1719. He was the oldest of four children, and as a teenager trapped rabbits and worked in a shoe shop to help support his family. When he was 15, his parents separated, and he lived with his mother in Melbourne, where he attended Dandenong High School.Ben Potter (26 October 2013). "Libertarianism gets a loudspeaker" – The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved from Factiva, 6 May 2014. Leyonhjelm later won a scholarship to study veterinary science at the University of Melbourne, studying alongside Denis Napthine, a future Premier of Victoria. He has since completed Bachelor of Laws and Master of Business Administration degrees at Macquarie University. After gaining his initial degree, he worked as a practising veterinarian for a time, both in Australia and overseas, and later became involved in marketing and management roles in the animal health industry.Senators-elected: terms commencing 1 July 2014: David Leyonhjelm (Senator-elect) – Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 5 May 2014.David Leyonhjelm LinkedIn. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
In 1989, Leyonhjelm was a founding director of Baron Strategic Services, an agribusiness consultancy firm with which he remains involved. He later served as director of the federally funded Gene Technology Information Unit (GTIU), which was established by the Keating government to offer "accurate and unbiased advice about the new gene technologies".Gavin Gilchrist (27 March 1996). "Gene unit denies conflict of interest" – The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Leyonhjelm lives with his wife, Amanda, in Sydney, but also owns a rural property in Hargraves, a locality near Mudgee in the Central West region of NSW. A shooting enthusiast, he is the president of the Sydney-based Inner West Hunters Club, and takes pleasure in his success in winning his grade in New South Wales for several years, shooting metallic silhouette targets with small-bore pistols. Also a former secretary of the Farm Writers' Association of New South Wales, Leyonhjelm had a column in Rural Business magazine for 20 years. He also wrote a column, "Agribuzz", for Fairfax Rural Media (formerly Rural Press),Agribuzz with David Leyonhjelm – The Land. Retrieved 5 May 2014. and for "Business Spectator"Contributor: David Leyonhjelm – Business Spectator. Retrieved 5 May 2014. and writes regularly in The Australian Financial Review.Articles authored by David Leyonhjelm – Financial Review. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
Early political activities Politically, Leyonhjelm was a member of Young Labor during the 1970s with the goal of ending compulsory military conscription.Nina Ubaldi (24 September 2013). "Liberty and Vita Weets: David Leyonhjelm – Honi Soit. Retrieved 5 May 2014. He later joined the Liberal Party, but resigned his membership in 1996 in protest against the stricter firearm laws introduced by John Howard."He left the Liberals because of John Howard's crackdown on guns following the Port Arthur massacre, describing it as "a disgraceful attack on law-abiding citizens" Liz Foschia and Mhairi McClymont (9 September 2013). "NSW sends pro-gun Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm to Senate" – Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Leyonhjelm had been a member of the Shooters Party since 1992, and was chair for a period of five years.Sarah Blake (6 September 2013). – The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2014. Having fallen out with its founder, John Tingle, he later left the party in protest at what he perceived as its increasing social conservatism and status as a "single issue party".(9 September 2013). "Libertarian David Leyonhjlem [sic] supports some Coalition policies but not others" – The Australian. Retrieved 5 May 2014.Andrew M. Potts (22 March 2011). "Party Seeks Outdoorsy Gay Vote" – Star Observer. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
In 2005, after leaving the Shooters Party, Leyonhjelm became involved with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which then contested the New South Wales elections as the Outdoor Recreation Party. As secretary of the LDP, he helped the party become federally registered and helped with the campaign for the 2007, 2010, and 2013 federal elections.He was then "registered officer" for both the LDP and Outdoor Recreation Party.
About Us – The Outdoor Recreation Party. Retrieved 5 May 2014.About Us: History – Liberal Democratic Party. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
Drawing 0.10 percent of the first-preference vote, Leyonhjelm unsuccessfully contested the Division of Bennelong in 2007 for the LDP,House of Representatives: NSW Division – Bennelong BENNELONG – Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 May 2014. which ran as the Liberty and Democracy Party, after the Australian Electoral Commission initially refused to register it under its original name due to the use of the word "Liberal". For the Outdoor Recreation Party, he unsuccessfully contested the 2010 Penrith state by-election, drawing 1.87 percent of the first-preference vote, and then was listed first on the party's group ticket at the 2011 state election, which drew 0.75 percent as a group.Legislative Council: Progressive First Preference Group Vote – Electoral Commission New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
Parliament Running for the Australian Senate in New South Wales at the 2013 federal election, Leyonhjelm was elected to the fifth of six vacancies."New South Wales Senators have been decided" – Australian Electoral Commission. Published 2 October 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014. The Liberal Democrats polled 3.91 percent of the first-preference vote based on five states,First Preferences by Group: NSW – Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 May 2014. receiving 523,831 primary votes above the line in NSW.First Preferences by Candidate: NSW – Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 May 2014. The result for the LDP in New South Wales was partly attributed to the "donkey vote", because the party occupied the first position on a ballot paper with a record number of candidates. Confusion with the Liberal Party of Australia and other similarly-named parties was also thought to have played a part, with a writer in The Age suggesting Leyonhjelm was "probably the only senator elected because people mistook his party for another".Tim Colebatch (5 October 2013). "How mistaken identity and luck won on the day" – The Age. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
2014 Leyonhjelm assumed his seat on 1 July 2014, and was sworn in on 7 July, making his maiden speech during the same week.Stephanie Anderson (7 July 2014). "New Senators sworn in at Parliament House" – SBS. Retrieved 14 July 2014.Joanna Mather (10 July 2014). "No topic taboo for Senator David Leyonhjelm" – The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 14 July 2014. In the first sitting week, he successfully moved to have the government's Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates and Other Amendments) Bill considered by itself, instead of being grouped with other legislation. The bill, which subsequently failed to pass, would have repealed personal income tax cuts that were to be introduced as compensation for the carbon tax.Sid Maher (9 July 2014). "Senate rejects repeal of income tax cuts linked to carbon tax" – The Australian. Retrieved 14 July 2014. In September 2014, he announced that Helen Dale, a writer and lawyer who won the Miles Franklin Award in 1995 (as Helen Demidenko), would be a senior adviser on policy matters."Helen Dale, known once as Helen Demidenko, to advise key federal senator" – The Australian. Retrieved 10 September 2014. In November 2014, Leyonhjelm introduced as a private member's bill a Freedom to Marry Bill, which would allow same-sex marriage.Lisa Cox (14 July 2014). "New senator David Leyonhjelm urges libertarian MPs to 'come out of the closet' and support same-sex marriage" – The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 July 2014.Freedom to Marry Bill 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
Leyonhjelm was criticised following the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis when he argued that Australians should be allowed greater access to weapons for self defence. He put the view that the outcome may have been different if at least some citizens were allowed to be armed.
2015
In August 2015 Leyonhjelm negotiated a deal to include a 12-month sunset clause on the temporary ban on importing the Adler lever action shotgun. The Government imposed the ban in July, while it reviewed the technical specifications of weapons in the wake of the Martin Place Siege. The Federal Government has agreed to allow the importation of the shotgun, in exchange for support on migration laws. A week prior to the ban lapsing as a result of the sunset clause, the Government reimposed the ban.
Leyonhjelm has been a vocal opponent of laws designed to reduce the consumption of cigarettes, and has accepted $55,000 in donations from tobacco company Philip Morris.
Leyonhjelm submitted a private member's bill to the Senate to repeal the ban on territories legalising euthanasia. The bill was voted down in the senate 36-34.
Leyonhjelm and Bob Day of the Family First Party announced their intention shortly after the 2013 election to vote as a bloc in the Senate on economic issues, but to vote separately on social issues.Heath Aston (1 June 2014). "Senate's odd couple quickly form a voting bloc – The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2014. Day has since resigned from the Senate, but Leyonhjelm has stated he intends to form a new voting bloc with his successor from Family First, as well as Cory Bernardi from the Australian Conservatives. Leyonhjelm has since formed a bloc with Bernardi, United Australia Party Senator Brian Burston and independent Senator Fraser Anning, who left One Nation and has since been expelled from Katter's Australian Party. Both Leyonhjelm and Day have long been members of the free market think tank Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).
2016
During the 2016 Australian federal election campaign, Leyonhjelm attracted criticism after he suggested women's sport was not "interesting enough" to receive government funding, in response to Labor's proposal to increase the amount of women's sport broadcast on Australian television. Labor leader Bill Shorten responded, calling Leyonhjelm a "stone age man".
During the same campaign, the satirical television show The Chaser's Election Desk parked a campervan across the road from Leyonhjelm's house daubed in Wicked Campers slogans that Leyonhjelm had previously defended, with Leyonhjelm's name replacing derogatory references to women in the original slogans. Leyonjhelm reacted by threatening to call the police and told the Chaser team to "fuck off". He subsequently told women's rights activist Melinda Tankard Reist to "STFU" (for "shut the fuck up") when she accused him of hypocrisy.