David John Hopetoun Watson (born 29 January 1945)[1] is an Australian former politician.
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.
[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.