Media Release

Vale David Smith

26 November 2019

Vale David Smith

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) regretfully acknowledges the sad passing of David Smith and extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

“If David’s life can be summed up, it is in a single adage: ‘Do the right thing and everyone wins’”, said ASFA Chair, Dr Michael Easson.

David was a leading contributor to the superannuation industry through his roles as a Director of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and as a Director of superannuation fund HESTA.

“David was a person who approached every challenge thinking through principle and impact. He thought about consequences, intended and unintended. He will be missed,” concluded Dr Easson.

For further information, please contact:

Jacqui Maddock, 0451 949 300.

About ASFA

ASFA is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia’s superannuation industry. It is a not-for-profit, sector-neutral, and non-party political, national organisation. ASFA’s mission is to continuously improve the superannuation system, so all Australians can enjoy a comfortable and dignified retirement.

Daniel Mulino MP

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services

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Born in Brindisi, Italy, Daniel was a young child when he moved with his family to Australia. He grew up in Canberra and completed his first degrees – arts and law – at the ANU. He then completed a Master of Economics (University of Sydney) and a PhD in economics from Yale.

He lectured at Monash University, was an economic adviser in the Gillard government and was a Victorian MP from 2014 to 2018. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer of Victoria, Daniel helped deliver major infrastructure projects and developed innovative financing structures for community projects.

In 2018 he was preselected for the new federal seat of Fraser and became its first MP at the 2019 election, re-elected in 2022 and 2025. From 2022 to 2025, Daniel was chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Economics Committee in which he chaired inquiries; economic dynamism, competition and business formation and insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

In 2025, he became the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services.

In August 2022, Daniel published ‘Safety Net: The Future of Welfare in Australia’, which aims to explore the ways in which an insurance approach can improve the effectiveness of government service delivery.