Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2001. Re-elected 2007 and 2014. Defeated at general elections 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Justice and Customs from 9.3.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Defence from 18.9.2013 to 23.12.2014.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.9.2013 to 23.12.2014.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 22.8.2002 to 23.3.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 23.9.2008 to 5.8.2013; Treaties served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 2.12.2002 to 31.8.2004; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 29.11.2004 to 8.12.2004; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served as Chair from 9.12.2004 to 14.9.2005; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 15.9.2005 to 23.3.2006; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 15.10.2008 to 12.5.2010; Intelligence and Security served from 6.7.2011 to 5.8.2013; Law Enforcement served from 10.9.2015 to 4.2.2016; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 10.9.2015 to 4.2.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2002 to 10.9.2006; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 10.9.2006; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 1.7.2002 to 6.2.2003; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.11.2002 to 22.11.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 29.10.2003 to 5.8.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 2.12.2004 to 6.10.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 13.9.2005 to 13.9.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 14.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 11.9.2006 to 22.3.2007; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.9.2006 to 12.9.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Substitute member from 6.12.2006 to 23.2.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 23.3.2007 to 23.3.2007; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 15.6.2015 to 4.2.2016; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 4.2.2016 to 23.2.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 23.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 23.2.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Select: Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters served from 24.6.2003 to 31.3.2004; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 17.6.2004 to 8.3.2005; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities served as Chair from 20.3.2008 to 9.2.2009; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities served from 10.2.2009 to 24.9.2010; Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru served as Substitute member from 26.6.2015 to 31.7.2015; Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru served from 10.8.2015 to 31.8.2015; National Broadband Network served from 12.10.2015 to 4.5.2016; Unconventional Gas Mining served from 23.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Establishment of a National Integrity Commission served from 29.2.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 1.7.2002 to 23.3.2007; Publications served from 1.7.2002 to 23.3.2007; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2002 to 23.3.2007; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 13.2.2008 to 31.12.2009; Privileges served from 24.6.2009 to 3.2.2010; Senators' Interests served from 1.1.2010 to 11.11.2013; Privileges served as Chair from 14.5.2010 to 18.3.2012; Privileges served from 19.3.2012 to 19.3.2012; Senators' Interests served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.2002 to 02.07.2016
• Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 6.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 22.9.2008 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Club (University of Western Australia) from 1974 to 1979.
• Member of the Liberal Party Kalgoorlie/Boulder Branch (WA) from 1986 to 2001.
• President of the Liberal Party Kalgoorlie/Boulder Branch (WA) from 1986 to 1988.
• President of the Liberal Party (WA) from 1997 to 2001.
• Member of the Liberal Party Mt Pleasant Branch (WA) from 2001.

Personal

• Born: 14.2.1956, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BJuris (University of Western Australia).
• Barrister and solicitor.