David Leyonhjelm

David Leyonhjelm BVSc, LLB, MBA
Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Senate
In office 1 July 2014 – 1 March 2019
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Duncan Spender
Senator for New South Wales
In office 1 July 2014 – 1 March 2019
Preceded by	Ursula Stephens
Succeeded by	Duncan Spender
Chairman of Outdoor Recreation Party
In office 4 March 2011 – 10 August 2017
Succeeded by	Party dissolved
Chairman of the Shooters Party
In office 27 March 1999 – 26 February 2005
Preceded by	John Tingle
Succeeded by	Robert Brown
Personal details
Born	David Ean Leyonhjelm[1] (1952-04-01) 1 April 1952 (age 72) Nhill, Victoria, Australia
Political party	Liberal Democratic (2005–present)
Other political affiliations	Labor (1969–1975) Liberal (1975–1996) Shooters Party (1996–2005) Outdoor Recreation Party (2005–2017)
Domestic partner	Amanda Downes
Residence(s)	Sydney, Australia
Education	Dandenong High School
Alma mater	University of Melbourne (BVSc) Macquarie University (LLB, MBA)
Occupation	Private Veterinarian (Self-employed) Agribusiness consultant (Baron Strategic Services)
Profession	Veterinarian businessman
Website	Official Website
Military service
Branch/service	Australian Army Reserve
Years of service	1982–1983[2]

David Ean Leyonhjelm ( /ˈlaɪənhɛlm/ "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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.