Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Newcastle, New South Wales, 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 27.2.2012 to 5.8.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; House served from 19.2.2008 to 11.3.2008; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Treaties served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 20.3.2002 to 1.12.2004; Public Accounts and Audit served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.2.2008; Public Accounts and Audit served as Chair from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Corporations and Financial Services served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Australian Crime Commission served from 25.10.2010 to 25.11.2010; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa, December 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland and Singapore, October 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and Japan, April 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, July 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Singapore and Indonesia, October-November 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, April 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Timor-Leste, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, November 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Ireland and Italy, June-July 2010.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to 05.08.2013

Personal

• Born: 4.5.1951, Newcastle, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Teachers' Certificate.
• Teacher.
• School principal.
• Director of Tinonee Gardens Multicultural Village.
• Community Director of Honeysuckle Development Corporation Board.

Electorate

• Name: Newcastle
• Location: northern and central Newcastle; it includes the suburbs of Adamstown, Birmingham Gardens, Broadmeadow, Carrington, Cooks Hill, Hamilton, Heatherbrae, Islington, Mayfield, Merewether, Newcastle, New Lambton, Sandgate, Shortland, Stockton, The Junction, Tighes Hill, Waratah, Wickham, Williamtown and parts of Adamstown Heights, Lambton, Jesmond, Kotara, Salt Ash, Thornton and Wallsend.
• Area: 354 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 92,896 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: shipbuilding and repairs, transport equipment, tourism, tertiary education, food processing, railway goods, chemicals, heavy engineering, stevedoring and port facilities.
• Includes: Newcastle includes the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Newcastle, and parts of Cessnock, Charlestown, Maitland, Port Stephens and Wallsend.