David Ridgway (politician)

Australian politician

The Honourable

David Ridgway

Agent General for South Australia in London

Incumbent

Assumed office
19 July 2021
Preceded by| Bill Muirhead
Minister for Trade and Investment
In office
22 March 2018 (2018-03-22) – 26 July 2020 (2020-07-26)
Premier| Steven Marshall
Preceded by| Martin Hamilton-Smith (as Minister for Investment and Trade)
Succeeded by| Stephen Patterson
Minister for Tourism
In office
22 March 2018 (2018-03-22) – 11 January 2020 (2020-01-11)
Premier| Steven Marshall
Preceded by| Leon Bignell
Succeeded by| Steven Marshall (absorbed into Premier's portfolio)
Member of the Legislative Council
In office
9 February 2002 – 30 June 2021
Preceded by| Trevor Griffin
Succeeded by| Heidi Girolamo
Personal details
Born|

David Wickham Ridgway

(1960-11-14) 14 November 1960 (age 64)
Adelaide, South Australia
Political party| Liberal Party of Australia (SA)

David Wickham Ridgway (born 14 November 1960) is a South Australian politician who served as a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 2002 to 2021, representing the Liberal Party of Australia (SA). Ridgway served as the Minister for Trade and Investment in the Marshall Ministry from 22 March 2018 to 26 July 2020, and as Minister for Tourism from March 2018 to January 2020.[1][2]

## Background

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Ridgway was elected state president of the South Australian Rural Youth Movement in 1982–83. In 1984 he won a six-month youth study tour to the UK. This experience heightened his interest in politics, especially in primary industries and regional development.

Ridgway began working on the family farm and at 19 he took on management of the family's horticultural business. After purchasing the business in 1997 with his wife Meredith, they expanded the operation to become the largest producer of gladioli corms in Australia and New Zealand.

## Parliament

[edit]

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Ridgway was elected from fourth position on the Liberal ticket at the 2002 election and from first position on the Liberal ticket at the 2010 election.

Ridgway was appointed a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary in 2005, and after the 2006 election was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment and Conservation, the River Murray and Urban Development & Planning, under the leadership of Iain Evans. A leadership change in April 2007, in which Martin Hamilton-Smith assumed Liberal Party leadership, prompted a re-shuffle of the Party's Shadow Cabinet, at which point Ridgway was made Shadow Minister for Police and Mineral Resources Development, whilst retaining his Shadow Urban Development & Planning post. David Ridgway also assisted the Leader of the Opposition with the Multicultural Affairs portfolio. In February 2013, Ridgway was further promoted to the crucial portfolios of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests and Tourism. Between 2007 and 2018 Ridgway served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.

Following the 2018 state election Ridgway was appointed as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.[3] Ridgway was relieved[4] of his Tourism ministerial responsibilities in the immediate aftermath of the devastation of Kangaroo Island and other South Australian tourist areas during the 2019–20 bushfires when the Premier, Steven Marshall assumed that ministerial role on 11 January 2020.[4] On 13 January 2020, by proclamation of the Governor, Ridgway was relieved of the Tourism portfolio in his ministerial position.[5] In July 2020, Ridgway resigned from cabinet, indicating he was unwilling to serve in a reshuffled ministry following the resignation of Stephan Knoll and Tim Whetstone over an expenses scandal.[6]

Ridgway resigned from the Legislative Council in June 2021 in order to be appointed as South Australia's Agent-General in London.[7]

## Personal life

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He currently resides in Adelaide and has three children.[citation needed]

## References

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1. ^ MacLennan, Leah (22 March 2018). "SA election: Who's who in the new South Australian Liberal Government?". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
2. ^ "The South Australian Government Gazette, 22 March 2018, No. 20, Supplementary Gazette" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2018.
3. ^ Siebert, Bension (22 March 2018). "Marshall unveils new Cabinet". InDaily. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
4. ^ a b "SA Premier will head tourism-led recovery in fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
5. ^ South Australian Government Gazette, 13 January 2020
6. ^ "Three SA ministers resign from cabinet – Australian Associated Press". AAP. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
7. ^ Boisvert, Eugene (1 July 2021). "Former minister David Ridgway appointed South Australia's new agent-general in London". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

## External links

[edit]

* "Ridgway, David". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

Political offices

Preceded by

Leon Bignell

as Minister for Tourism  |  Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
2018–2020  | Succeeded by

Steven Marshall

as Premier of South Australia
Preceded by

Martin Hamilton-Smith

as Minister for Investment and Trade  | Succeeded by

Himself

as Minister for Trade and Investment
Preceded by

Himself

as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment  |  Minister for Trade and Investment
2020  | Succeeded by

Stephen Patterson

Preceded by

Rob Lucas

|  Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council
2007–2018  | Succeeded by

Kyam Maher

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by

Bill Muirhead

|  Agent-General for South Australia
2021–present  | Incumbent