| David Watson | |
| Office: | Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party Elections: 2001 |
| Deputy: | Bob Quinn |
| Term Start: | 23 June 1998 |
| Term End: | 28 February 2001 |
| Predecessor: | Joan Sheldon |
| Successor: | Bob Quinn |
| Office1: | Shadow Minister for Energy |
| Leader1: | Lawrence Springborg |
| Term Start1: | 22 April 2003 |
| Term End1: | 7 February 2004 |
| Predecessor1: | Jeff Seeney |
| Successor1: | Jeff Seeney |
| Office2: | Shadow Treasurer of Queensland |
| Leader2: | Rob Borbidge |
| Term Start2: | 2 July 1998 |
| Term End2: | 17 February 2001 |
| Predecessor2: | David Hamill |
| Successor2: | Jeff Seeney |
| Office3: | Minister for Public Works and Housing of Queensland |
| Premier3: | Rob Borbidge |
| Term Start3: | 28 April 1997 |
| Term End3: | 26 June 1998 |
| Predecessor3: | Ray Connor |
| Successor3: | Robert Schwarten |
| Office4: | Deputy Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party |
| Term Start4: | 13 May 1990 |
| Term End4: | 24 September 1992 |
| Leader4: | Denver Beanland Joan Sheldon |
| Predecessor4: | Denver Beanland |
| Successor4: | Santo Santoro |
| Constituency Mp7: | Forde |
| Parliament7: | Australian |
| Predecessor7: | New seat |
| Successor7: | Mary Crawford |
| Term Start7: | 1 December 1984 |
| Term End7: | 11 July 1987 |
| Constituency Am8: | Moggill |
| Assembly8: | Queensland Legislative |
| Term Start8: | 2 December 1989 |
| Term End8: | 7 February 2004 |
| Predecessor8: | Bill Lickiss |
| Successor8: | Bruce Flegg |
| Birth Date: | 1945 1, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Sydney |
| Birthname: | David John Hopetoun Watson |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Party: | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Alma Mater: | University of Queensland Ohio State University |
| Occupation: | Accountant |
David John Hopetoun Watson (born 29 January 1945) is an Australian former politician.
Born in Sydney, Watson was educated at the University of Queensland and Ohio State University before becoming an accountant. He was Professor of Accounting and Dean of Commerce and Economics at the University of Queensland before entering politics.[1]
In 1984, Watson was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Forde. He was defeated in the next federal election in 1987, but in 1989 was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the member for Moggill. He was the Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works 1997–1998 and Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party 1998–2001.[2] As state Liberal leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition, he led the Liberals into the 2001 state election, which saw Labor reelected in a record landslide. Watson himself was nearly swept up in that year's massive Labor wave, surviving by only 396 votes. He was left as the only non-Labor MLA from Brisbane.