Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Curtin, Western Australia, 1998. Re-elected 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Retired prior to general elections 2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Ageing from 7.10.2003 to 27.1.2006.
• Minister for Education, Science and Training from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.9.2013 to 28.8.2018.
• Minister for Foreign Affairs from 18.9.2013 to 28.8.2018.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 6.11.2003; Privileges served from 6.2.2001 to 8.10.2001; Economics served from 25.9.2008 to 25.2.2009
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum served from 2.6.1999 to 9.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Treaties served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 4.11.2003; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 10.3.2009 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Securities served from 9.12.1998 to 8.10.2001

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 03.10.1998 to 11.04.2019
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 3.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Employment, Business and Workplace Relations from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Treasurer from 22.9.2008 to 20.2.2009.
• Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs from 20.2.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Trade from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party from 29.11.2007 to 24.8.2018.

Party positions

• President of the Liberal Party Perth Central Branch (WA) from 1992 to 1997.
• Senior Vice-President of the Liberal Party Perth Central Branch (WA) from 1997 to 1998.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Claremont Branch (WA) from 1998 to 2002.
• Member of the Liberal Party Crawley Branch (WA) from 2002.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1956, Lobethal, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• AMP (Harvard University).
• LLB (University of Adelaide).
• Barrister and solicitor from 1979 to 1998.
• Managing partner at Clayton Utz, Perth (WA) from 1994 to 1998.
• Chair of the Town Planning Appeal Tribunal (WA) from 1994 to 1998.
• Senate Member at Murdoch University from 1997 to 1998.
• Director of Special Broadcasting Services Television from 1997 to 1998.
• Director and Fellow at the Australian Institute of Management from 1997 to 1998.

Electorate

• Name: Curtin
• Location: western Perth; it includes the suburbs of Churchlands, City Beach, Claremont, Cottesloe, Crawley, Daglish, Dalkeith, Doubleview, Floreat, Glendalough, Herdsman, Innaloo, Jolimont, Karrakatta, Karrinyup (part), Mount Claremont, Mosman Park, Osborne Park (part), Nedlands, Peppermint Grove, Scarborough (part), Shenton Park, Swanbourne, Subiaco, West Leederville, Wembley, Wembley Downs and Woodlands.
• Area: 98 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 97,534 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: medical, education, retail, recreation, light industrial, professional services, commercial, and hospitality.
• Includes: Curtin includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Churchlands and Nedlands, and parts of Cottesloe, Perth and Scarborough.

Publications

• The Liberal frontier: building a civil society, Sir Robert Menzies Lecture Trust, Melbourne: 2006.