Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Makin, South Australia, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Family and Community Affairs served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Parliamentary Library served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Privileges served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Publications served as Chair from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Procedure served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Fiji, November 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, Germany, Singapore and USA, April-May 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 17.10.2007
• Secretary of the Government Committee on Health and Aged Care.
• Chair of the Government Committee on Health and Aged Care.
• Member of the Government Committee on Aboriginal Affairs.
• Member of the Government Committee on Communications, Information Technology.
• Member of the Government Committee on Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
• Member of the Government Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
• Member of the Government Committee on Family and Community Services.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Liberal Party Newland Central Branch (SA).

Personal

• Born: 2.4.1959, Woodville, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of South Australia).
• Theatre Nurse in the Royal Australian Navy.
• Nurse in aged care.

Electorate

• Name: Makin
• Location: north-eastern Adelaide; it includes the suburbs of Banksia Park, Fairview Park, Gepps Cross, Golden Grove, Greenwith, Gulfview Heights, Hope Valley, Ingle Farm, Modbury, Para Hills, Para Vista, Pooraka, Redwood Park, Ridgehaven, Salisbury East, Salisbury Heights, St Agnes, Surrey Downs, Tea Tree Gully, Valley View, Vista, Wynn Vale and Yatala Vale.
• Area: 115 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 93,908 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: light manufacturing, commercial and retail industry, wineries, horse studs, hobby farmers, poultry, brick making and tourism.
• Includes: Makin includes the South Australian House of Assembly electorates of Playford and Wright, and parts of Elizabeth, Florey, Napier, Newland and Ramsay.