Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 5.5.2005 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Tierney (resigned). Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2004. Re-elected 2010 and 2016. Retired with the expiration of term 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.6.2008 to 19.9.2008.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.7.2019 to 30.6.2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General from 28.5.2015 to 21.9.2015.
• Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 21.9.2015 to 18.2.2016.
• Minister for International Development and the Pacific from 18.2.2016 to 22.8.2018.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 26.2.2007 to 11.3.2008; Migration served from 4.2.2009 to 22.6.2009; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 10.9.2018 to 11.4.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 22.7.2019 to 30.6.2022
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 23.3.2007 to 9.5.2007; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Chair from 10.5.2007 to 11.2.2008; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 12.2.2008 to 13.2.2008; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 12.2.2008 to 27.10.2010; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 14.2.2008 to 15.10.2008; Law Enforcement served from 2.7.2019 to 30.7.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 5.5.2005 to 13.5.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Deputy Chair from 14.5.2005 to 10.9.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.5.2005 to 26.5.2005; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.5.2005 to 30.5.2005; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 14.6.2005 to 12.10.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.3.2006 to 2.5.2006; Finance and Public Administration served from 11.9.2006 to 24.11.2008; Community Affairs served from 12.9.2006 to 9.5.2007; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.3.2012 to 10.5.2012; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 10.9.2018 to 30.6.2022; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 15.11.2018 to 14.2.2019
• Senate Select: Fuel and Energy served from 26.6.2008 to 12.11.2008
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 9.2.2006 to 11.2.2008; Publications served from 10.9.2018 to 1.7.2019; Privileges served from 10.9.2018 to 30.6.2022; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 2.7.2019 to 3.12.2019; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served as Chair from 4.12.2019 to 30.6.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 05.05.2005 to 30.06.2022
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship from 10.11.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Minister for Ageing from 8.12.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Mental Health from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (NSW) from 1995.
• President of the Liberal Party Italian Special Branch (NSW) from 1995.
• Metropolitan Representative of the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW) from 1996 to 1997.
• Member of the Liberal Party Constitutional Standing Committee from 1996 to 1997.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 2000 to 2002.
• Urban Representative to the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW), 2003.
• Urban Representative to the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW) from 2003 to 2004.
• Member of the Liberal Party Constitutional Standing Committee, 2003.
• Member of the Liberal Party Constitutional Standing Committee from 2003 to 2004.

Other positions

• Member of the Red Cross Fundraising Committee, mid-1990s.
• Member of Zonta International (East Sydney Region), mid-1990s.
• Assistant Secretary of the Marco Polo Association, early 1980s.
• Founding Member of the Unanderra Retirement Village Board, 1986.
• Representative for Australia to General Council of Italians Abroad from 1990 to 1998.
• Member, Co.As.It. from 1994 to 2005.
• Member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on the Global Cultural Diversity Conference, 1995.
• Chairman of the Multicultural Committee of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, from 1996 to 1997.
• Coalition Nominee to the Sydney Olympic Games Multicultural Advisory Committee from 1996 to 2000.
• President of Com.It.Es (NSW) from 1998 to 2000.
• President of the Newport Progress Association from 1998 to 2004.
• Member of the Youth Off The Streets Board from 1999 to 2002.
• Chairman of the Youth Off The Streets Board from 2002 to 2004.

Personal

• Born: 20.5.1960, Wollongong, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Australian National University).
• LLB (Australian National University).
• Articled Clerk and Solicitor at Macphillamny, Cummins and Gibson from 1983 to 1984.
• Legal officer at the Australian Government Solicitor (ACT) from 1984 to 1986.
• Legal Officer and Senior Legal Officer at the Australian Government Solicitor (NSW) from 1986 to 1990.
• Acting Principal Legal Officer at the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, 1990.
• Policy Adviser to the Hon. J Carlton, MP from 1990 to 1993.
• Senior Private Secretary to the Premier, the Hon. J Fahey, MLA (NSW) from 1993 to 1994.
• Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor from 1994 to 2004.
• Consultant at Minter Ellison Lawyers from 2004 to 2005.

Honours

• Appointed a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 1998.
• Received the Pittwater City Council Community Service Award, 2002.