Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2001. Re-elected 2007, 2013 and 2016. Defeated at general elections 2019.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 7.7.2011 to 30.6.2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 25.6.2003 to 7.7.2014.
• Deputy President of the Senate from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Chair of Committees from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Christmas Island Tragedy served as Chair from 3.3.2011 to 29.6.2011
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2002 to 31.8.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.3.2004 to 31.8.2004; Treaties served from 14.2.2008 to 1.7.2008; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2011 to 5.8.2013; National Capital and External Territories served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Intelligence and Security served from 14.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2008 to 24.6.2009; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 30.9.2010 to 1.7.2011; Public Works served from 25.10.2010 to 1.7.2011; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2002 to 29.11.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.7.2002 to 25.6.2003; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.4.2004 to 16.4.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 10.9.2006; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 29.11.2004; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 1.12.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Chair from 18.11.2004 to 30.6.2005; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2005 to 1.7.2005; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Chair from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 9.2.2006 to 10.8.2006; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.9.2006 to 12.2.2008; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served as Chair from 13.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.5.2010 to 26.5.2010; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 12.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Economics: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 11.2.2014; Economics: References served from 12.11.2013 to 14.11.2013; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.9.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.9.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Select: Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 11.3.2016 to 11.3.2016
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2002 to 1.7.2005; Publications served from 1.7.2002 to 11.11.2013; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 24.6.2004 to 15.11.2004; Scrutiny of Bills served from 16.11.2004 to 1.7.2005; Privileges served from 30.9.2010 to 30.9.2010; Scrutiny of Bills served from 30.9.2010 to 21.6.2012; Senators' Interests served from 1.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Regulations and Ordinances served from 21.9.2011 to 21.6.2012; Regulations and Ordinances served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; House served from 12.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served as Chair from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Senators' Interests served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Privileges served from 1.9.2016 to 29.11.2017

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2002 to 30.06.2019
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Parliamentary Caucus from 30.10.2012.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1977.

Personal

• Born: 25.3.1960, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Apprentice electrical mechanic.
• Electrician.
• Official, Electrical Trades Union.