Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 20.6.2012 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice R Brown (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2013. Re-elected 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 9.8.2017 to 26.6.2018
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 13.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Corporations and Financial Services served from 2.7.2019 to 6.10.2020
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 11.9.2012 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 29.10.2012 to 22.11.2012; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.5.2013 to 17.6.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 7.7.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 12.11.2013 to 7.7.2014; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.12.2013 to 6.12.2013; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.3.2014 to 16.7.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.8.2014 to 6.8.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 7.8.2014 to 7.8.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 27.8.2014 to 29.10.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 13.5.2015 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 13.5.2015 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.6.2015 to 18.8.2015; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 13.9.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.9.2016 to 13.9.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Chair from 7.2.2017 to 4.9.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 7.2.2017 to 4.9.2017; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 14.9.2017 to 21.3.2018; Economics: Legislation served from 14.11.2017 to 1.7.2019; Economics: References served from 14.11.2017 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 7.12.2017 to 17.5.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 9.5.2018 to 7.6.2019; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 20.6.2018 to 13.2.2019; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.9.2019 to 17.2.2021; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 3.12.2019 to 10.6.2021; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.12.2019 to 10.3.2020; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 6.10.2020 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 6.10.2020 to present; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 8.9.2022 to 3.11.2023; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 27.3.2024 to present; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.10.2024 to present
• Senate Select: Health served as Substitute member from 4.11.2014 to 4.11.2014; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served from 15.6.2015 to 24.6.2015; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Chair from 25.6.2015 to 9.5.2016; PFAS served from 22.8.2024 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 20.06.2012 to present
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Competition Policy and Small Business; Tourism; Trade; Waste from 1.7.2012 to 11.11.2013.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Trade; Competition Policy and Small Business; Tourism; Waste; Marine (Tasmania) from 11.11.2013 to 1.7.2014.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Competition Policy; Small Business and Consumer Affairs; Fisheries, Marine (Tasmania) and Whaling; Trade; Veterans' Affairs from 1.7.2014 to 25.5.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Finance; Trade; Defence and Veterans' Affairs; Competition Policy; Small Business and Consumer Affairs; Fisheries, Marine (Tasmania) and Whaling from 25.5.2015 to 15.9.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Finance; Trade; Defence and Veterans' Affairs; Consumer Affairs; Fisheries, Marine (Tasmania), Whaling and Antarctica from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Treasury; Consumer Affairs; Waste and Recycling; Healthy Oceans from 25.8.2016 to 5.7.2019.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Treasury, Finance, Consumer Affairs, Waste and Recycling, Healthy Oceans and Small Business from 5.7.2019 to 9.9.2020.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Healthy Oceans, Waste and Recycling, Consumer Affairs and Small Business from 9.9.2020 to 17.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Agriculture, Healthy Oceans and Waste from 17.6.2022 to 25.3.2024.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Agriculture, Healthy Oceans, and Waste and Recycling from 25.3.2024.

Personal

• Born: 24.2.1968, Singapore
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of New South Wales).
• MEc (University of Western Australia).
• Banker and broker from 1992 to 2003.
• Wine grower and business owner from 2004 to 2012.
• Lecturer at the University of Tasmania from 2005 to 2012.

Military Service

• Australian Army 1986-89.