Kemp was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at the University of Melbourne and Yale University, where he gained a doctoral degree in politics. He is the brother of Senator Rod Kemp, and the son of Charles Kemp, founder of the Institute of Public Affairs.
University of Melbourne. Yale University.
Kemp was Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Melbourne 1975-1979 and Professor of Politics at Monash University, Melbourne 1979-1990. Political career
Kemp was Senior Adviser to Malcolm Fraser, Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister 1975-1976 and Director of the Prime Minister" General’ s Office 1981. In 1990 Kemp challenged a prominent Liberal Member of Parliament and former Cabinet minister, Ian Macphee, for Liberal endorsement in the safe Melbourne seat of Goldstein.
Kemp was seen as the candidate of the liberal wing of the Liberal Party, against a leading moderate liberal figure.
He was Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister Assisting the Minister for Finance for Privatisation 1996-1997. He was promoted to Cabinet as Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs 1997-1998 and Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs 1998–2001.
He was Minister for Environment and Heritage from November 2001 to July 2004. He was Vice-President of the Executive Council from October 1998 to July 2004.
David Kemp retired at the 2004 election.
He was succeeded as member for Goldstein by Andrew Robb. In 2007, he was elected President of the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party. Post-political career
In 2012, Kemp became chairman of Scotch College, Melbourne.
He is the author of Society and Electoral Behaviour in Australia: a Study of Three Decades (1978), Malcolm Fraser on Australia (with Doctorate M White) (1986), Current Priorities for Liberalism (1986) and Foundations for Australian Political Analysis: Politics and Authority (1988).
Kemp was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1990-1996.
