David Van

Van has an undergraduate degree in horticulture, and as part of his degree studied the regeneration of Australian bush post the Ash Wednesday fires in the Blackwood forest that was burned as part of the Trentham East fire complex.[2]

Prior to entering politics, Van was the managing director of South Melbourne public relations firm the De Wintern Group since 2003 where he advised clients on Royal Commissions and other Government inquiries. He was a board director of the Australian Association of Franchisees. A St Kilda resident, he was also the co-convenor of neighbourhood group Friends of St Kilda Hill, which was outspoken about crime and safety, specifically in relation to the Gatwick Hotel boarding house and public housing.[3][4][5][6][7]

He was elected to the Senate at the 2019 federal election from the marginal third position on the Liberal ticket.[8] He was assigned a party role as "patron" for the Labor-held House seat of Dunkley.[5] In his first speech in September 2019, Van spoke of his belief in the "dignity of work", defended the coalition government's welfare policies, and stated that he believed in "free markets, freedom of speech, and most importantly in my view, getting government out of people's lives to the most practicable extent possible".[9]

Two months into his term, Van called for the phasing out of single-use plastics in Australia.[10]

In February 2021, Van called for an independent review into ABC complaints.[11]

In November 2021, the Prime Minister said he was "disappointed" after claims that Van had made "growling and dog noises" at Senator Jacqui Lambie spoke during Senate Question Time, on the same day as the Sex Descrimination Commissioner released a report into harassment and workplace culture at Parliament House. Van later "apologised unreservedly" for interjecting but denied making "growling noises".[12][13]

Van is a member of the Centre-Right faction of the Liberal Party.[14]

• https://www.liberal.org.au/member/david-van