Australia Day honour for Nationals’ stalwart David Russell
27-January-2012
Warren Truss MP -
LEADER of The Nationals Warren Truss has paid tribute to his friend and long-time Nationals identity David Russell QC RFD, who has been recognised in the Australia Day Honours List.
David has an extensive record of service to The Nationals and Australian public life. He served as Federal Vice-President of The Nationals from 1990-95 and, again, from 1999-2005. He was State President of The Nationals – Queensland from 1995-99, and Federal President from 2005-06.
He has also served as a Party delegate, Federal Councillor (on the organisation’s various management committees), as well as on a range of policy, campaign and agenda committees. He was a keen supporter of, and played an active role in, the Liberal National Party in Queensland.
But David has also demonstrated excellence and leadership in his profession, enjoying a distinguished and wide-ranging record of contribution to the Australian community in a range of fields encompassing the legal profession, taxation law, the wine industry, international relations and community groups.
A distinguished legal practitioner, with national and international recognition particularly in taxation law, he has been, and remains, an active member of many professional associations and government bodies, including:
- President of the Taxation Institute of Australia (1993-95).
- President of the Asia Oceania Tax Consultants' Association (1996-2000).
- He continues as co-Chair of the Australian chapter of the International Law and Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association and a member of the Executive of that Section, and an Honorary Member of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong.
In addition to his professional commitments, David maintains a strong and active interest in a range of other fields through which he has contributed significantly to the Australian community, such as:
- Military service, having served in various capacities including as a Judge Advocate and, since 1988, as a Wing Commander in the RAAF Legal Reserve.
- An entertaining speaker and a prolific contributor, writing widely and authoring and co-authoring over 20 publications, as well as dozens of conference papers.
- Educational activities, including as a lecturer and adjunct professor at the University of Queensland, as an examiner for the Barristers’ Board, and as a member of a number of industry advisory boards.
David’s strong interest in international relations, particularly with Japan, has seen him assume professional engagements overseas, being involved with the Australia–Japan Society, Queensland since 1970, including President from 1996-2001 and President of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies from 2001-05.
Also through his family’s business, Russell Pastoral Company, David continues to contribute to his community and regional Australia.
The Company’s flagship property ‘Jimbour’ is one of Queensland’s oldest stations dating back to 1841. In 1844, ‘Jimbour’ was the departure point for Ludwig Leichhardt’s historic journey of discovery to Pt Essington in the Northern Territory.
Under David and his late wife Debbie, the station’s magnificent sandstone homestead and grounds have been restored and opened to the local community for cultural pursuits, including a popular concert series in the homestead gardens.
In addition to pursuing the Company’s interests in the cattle, wool, grain, wine and tourism sectors, David established a winery and he served as a director of the Queensland Wine Industry Association, the peak wine industry body for the state, including as President from 2002-04
In 2003 he became a Committee member of the Australian Regional Winemakers Forum, and from 2004-07 served as its Vice-President and one of the members of the Council of the Winemakers Federation of Australia.
David’s remarkable services to Australian politics, the legal profession, industry and the community make him a worthy recipient as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).