David Clarke

David John Clarke (born 2 April 1947), an Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2003 to 2019, representing the Liberal Party. and is considered to have conservative Roman Catholic views. and is considered to have conservative Christian views. His wife is a member of Opus Dei. in the media. Despite this, Clarke has stated that "I don't think there is a formal factional system operating in the Liberal Party" and that "the Liberal Party traditionally has not been a party based on factions and I don't believe it's based on factions now." Former NSW Opposition Leader from 1981 to 1983, John Dowd described Clarke as being "perceived as a lieutenant who carried out the views of Urbanchich and co in their branch stacking and endeavouring to take control of a large measure of the [Liberal] party." He announced his retirement in September 2018 and did not contest the 2019 state election.

In his first speech in 2003, Clarke promised to "uphold and advocate the conservative, mainstream and Christian-based truths and values that I believe our nation is based upon … with missionary zeal", advocated state sovereignty, the decentralisation of government power, and stated that "I respect the right of individuals to live their lives as they choose, unmolested and without harassment and persecution, provided they do not bring harm to others or to institutions and concepts that protect others."

Clarke's views have been labelled by political opponents as "ultra-conservative" She said in 2005 that she was "very fearful of the power of David Clarke...because he has around him a significant group of people who are absolutely fixated on their agenda, and a very narrow agenda." by former member of the Liberal Party's small 'l' liberal faction (known as "The Group"). The defendant publisher conceded that imputations of political extremism were defamatory, and the court held that the book further defamed Clarke by slurs on his character. Sharri Markson writes that "t's when talking about topics other than politics that he [i.e. Clarke] show the softer side … seems unafraid to be emotional about his family … I'm left wondering whether its possible that one of the most feared men in the NSW Liberal Party is just a big softie." Clarke claims that his Catholic views on social policy issues are broadly consistent with the rest of the community.

NSW Labor MP Kristina Keneally expressed a view in New South Wales Parliament with parliamentary privilege protecting her from lawsuits that Clarke "effect[ed] a right-wing takeover of Liberal Party branches. David Clarke is the godfather of the Extremist Right of the Liberal Party."

Connection to Young Liberals Journalist Mark Aarons and others have claimed that Clarke has a significant influence on the Young Liberals. Alex Hawke, a former national president of the Young Liberals and now a federal MP, was his parliamentary staffer. There has been much media coverage of the connection between Clarke and Hawke because of the preselection of Hawke to the Federal seat of Mitchell in June 2007. By October 2009 onwards, it has been reported that Hawke and Clarke had fallen out and become rivals leading to a factional war.

Kyle Kutasi, former Young Liberal and former President of the Sydney University Liberal Club is Clarke's son-in-law.