Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2013. Re-elected 2016. Defeated at general elections 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 1.7.2014 to 24.2.2016; Electoral Matters served from 15.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; National Broadband Network served from 15.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 8.11.2016 to 8.2.2017
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Law Enforcement served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Corporations and Financial Services served from 12.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Public Accounts and Audit served from 15.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics: References served from 1.7.2014 to 21.10.2015; Economics: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 22.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served as Chair from 22.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Economics: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Economics: References served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 30.11.2016 to 5.12.2017; Education and Employment: References served as Substitute member from 19.10.2017 to 31.12.2017
• Senate Select: Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs served from 1.10.2014 to 27.3.2015; Health served as Substitute member from 11.3.2015 to 11.3.2015; Health served as Substitute member from 17.11.2015 to 17.11.2015; Health served as Substitute member from 27.4.2016 to 27.4.2016; Health served as Substitute member from 6.5.2016 to 6.5.2016; Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates served from 30.11.2016 to 28.11.2017
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 5.12.2017 to 30.6.2019

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2014 to 30.06.2019

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Qld.).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Qld.).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Policy Coordination Council (Qld.).
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Economic Management Policy Committee.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Electoral College (Qld.).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Finance Committee.

Personal

• Born: 12.2.1961, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BCom (University of Queensland).
• BA (University of Queensland).
• Research Officer and Organiser at the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (Qld) from 1982 to 1992.
• First Assistant Secretary at the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (Qld) from 1992 to 1996.
• Secretary-Treasurer of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (Qld) from 1996 to 2014.