Dave Kelly (politician)
# Dave Kelly (politician)

David Joseph Kelly (born 1 July 1962) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia since 2013, representing the seat of Bassendean. In the McGowan Ministry, he was Minister for Water, Minister for Fisheries, Minister for Forestry, Minister for Innovation and ICT, and Minister for Science.

## Early life

Kelly was born in Perth, and graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Prior to entering politics, he worked for a trade union, United Voice, for 20 years, including as state secretary for 10 years.

## Political career

Kelly entered parliament at the 2013 state election, replacing the retiring member, Martin Whitely, in the safe Labor seat of Bassendean. At the time of his election, he was living in the suburb of Bayswater. A month after entering parliament, Kelly was included in the reconstituted shadow ministry led by Mark McGowan. He has been described as a "factional boss" and "left-faction powerbroker".

On 27 February 2022 Kelly became the first Western Australian politician to acknowledge he had tested positive to COVID-19, making the announcement via Twitter.

