Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Moreton, Queensland, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022. Retired prior to general elections 2025.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Nuclear Energy served from 10.10.2024 to 18.11.2024
• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Primary Industries and Resources served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 24.6.2009 to 19.7.2010; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Education and Employment served from 13.2.2013 to 5.8.2013; Selection served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Indigenous Affairs served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Communications and the Arts served from 10.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; House served from 17.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 24.6.2013; Christmas Island Tragedy served from 22.3.2011 to 29.6.2011; Australia's Family Law System served from 22.10.2019 to 22.11.2021
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 28.7.2022 to 28.3.2025; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 28.7.2022 to 28.3.2025
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 6.2.2013 to 5.8.2013; Public Works served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 15.9.2016 to 9.10.2016; Human Rights served as Deputy Chair from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2022; Human Rights served from 28.7.2022 to 28.3.2025; Public Works served from 28.7.2022 to 4.8.2022; Public Works served as Chair from 5.8.2022 to 28.3.2025; Public Accounts and Audit served from 22.6.2023 to 9.8.2023

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.11.2007 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 24.6.2014 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Training from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Education from 28.1.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 13.5.2013 to 5.8.2013.
• Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 30.8.2016 to 11.4.2022.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Bardon-Rainworth Branch (Qld) from 1997 to 2002.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Qld) from 2004 to 2006.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2004.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee from 2004 to 2007.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Salisbury Branch (Qld) from 2005 to 2007.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2007.

Personal

• Born: 5.1.1966, St George, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipT (Brisbane College of Advanced Education).
• BA(Hons) (University of Queensland).
• LLB (Queensland University of Technology).
• Secondary school teacher from 1986 to 1997.
• Solicitor from 1997 to 2000.
• Organiser for the Queensland Independent Education Union from 2000 to 2004.
• Senior Government Policy Adviser (Qld) from 2005 to 2007.
• Policy adviser, 2007.

Electorate

• Name: Moreton
• Location: The Division of Moreton consists of part of the Brisbane City Council.
• Area: 109 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 102,769 (at 6.6.2019)
• Industries: The area is mainly residential with some light industrial and commercial activities. A light aircraft airport is in Archerfield.

Publications

• The twelfth fish, Vulgar Press, Carlton North, Vic.: 2008.
• The big fig, Boolarong Press, Brisbane: 2013.
• The solid rock, Boolarong Press, Salisbury, Qld: 2016.