David Elliott

David Elliott was born in Bankstown in 1970 and was educated at Christian Community High School before completing a Bachelor of Arts in History and Asian Studies. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Master of Arts (Communication).

A keen interest in politics lead David to join the Liberal Party on his 16th birthday and research roles on the personal staff of then Senator Bronwyn Bishop in her Parramatta office before spending four years on the personal staff of the Hon John Howard MP.

In 1993 he joined the NSW Police Media Unit and worked on a number of high profile operations, including Task Force Air which led to the arrest of notorious backpacker murderer Ivan Milat.

In 1995 David joined the Regular Army and, following studies at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, was commissioned into the Australian Army Public Relations Service.

A long-time friendship with then NSW Opposition Leader, the Hon Peter Collins QC MP saw David return to politics as his senior press secretary in 1997. Following the change of leadership in the NSW Liberal Party in 1999, David was invited to be the National Campaign Director of the “No Republic” campaign. Under his administration, David saw a successful “No” vote in every State of the Commonwealth. For his services to the referendum he was awarded the Commonwealth’s “Centenary Medal” in 2001. In 1999 he also completed a Master of Arts (MA) in Organisational Communication and wrote his final year dissertation on the relationship between the Liberal Party of Australia and the media.

January 2000 saw David recalled to the Australian Regular Army and posted to the headquarters staff of the multi national peacekeeping forces in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, for which he was awarded the “Australian Service Medal”.

He returned to Australia in June 2000 and opted for a career sabbatical with the international charity, St John Ambulance, working as the Major Events Manager in both Australia and the Manchester Commonwealth Games. At this time he also consulted to a number of politicians in Australia and New Zealand.

In January 2004 David joined the Australian Hotels Association and served as the NSW Deputy Chief Executive until January 2008. He was responsible for tourism and accommodation issues as well as being the Association’s public affairs director. He was awarded the “Australian Defence Medal” in April 2007 before resigning from the Australian Army to concentrate on business interests.

In January 2008 David was made the Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Contractors Federation (NSW) based at Norwest Business Park which employed 15 staff and operated as a Registered Training Organisation servicing more than 500 businesses building infrastructure across Australia and ranging from publicly listed companies to small family concerns.

David is a Director of Castle Hill RSL and Parramatta RSL and is on the Board of Life Education Australia (NSW). From January 2006 to December 2007 he was a lay-member of the NSW Law Society Professional Conduct Committee. In October 2009 David was also elected as a Member of the Sydney Business Chamber Policy Committee. He lives in Kellyville and is married to Nicole and they have two young sons, Lachlan (11) and William (9). He is a member of the Union Club (Sydney), the Club Directors Institute and his interests include travel, history, rugby, sailing and golf.

David was elected to the 55th Parliament as the Member for Baulkham Hills on 26th March 2011. In June 2011 he was also elected as the Chairman of the NSW Economic Development Committee. He presided over the Inquiry into the NSW Parliamentary Budget Office. He is also the Chairman of Ministerial Consultative Council on India, Secretary of Parliamentary Friends of Papua New Guinea, and Chairman of the St John Ambulance Parliamentary Auxiliary. In 2012 he was appointed Chairman of the O’Farrell’s Government’s Plumbing Advisory Council

Shaoquett Moselmane is a curent Labor Member of the NSW Legislative Council, serving since December 2009.

He was a Councillor on Rockdale City Council from 1995 to 2012. He has been a local resident of Rockdale with his wife and son since 1977.

Shaoquett is currently the Labor Duty MLC for the electorates of Heathcote, Murrumbidgee, Oatley, Pittwater and Rockdale.

He has had long-standing involvement with various community organisations, especially in, Arabic, Chinese, Subcontinent and Pakistani communities

Shaoquett is passionate about furthering the interests of multicultural communities in New South Wales. He’s planning the first Multicultural Media Awards to recognise the efforts of ethnic and indigenous media outlets in Australia.

Shaoquett is a Founding Member and Senior Vice-President of The Australian Chinese Association, an Honorary Member of the Arab Business Network, and a Member of the Board of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW. He is also the State Parliamentary Patron of the Pakistani Australia Business Council and is Convenor of Arabic Friends of Labor

Shaoquett was also a member of the Australian Republican Movement during the 1990s, and has been a member of the Labor Party since 1982.

He’s completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Public Administration at the University of Sydney, a Masters Degree in Politics at Macquarie University, and a Law Degree at the University of New South Wales.