Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 2001. Defeated at general elections, 2007.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 1.7.1996 to 12.8.1999; Parliamentary Library served from 9.12.2005 to 30.6.2008
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.1996 to 26.2.1997; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.10.1996 to 25.11.1996; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 17.10.1996 to 25.6.1997; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 10.12.1996 to 2.3.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 5.2.1997 to 5.3.1997; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.1997 to 2.10.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served from 2.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Chair from 2.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.3.1998 to 8.4.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 8.4.1998 to 30.6.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 30.9.1999; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 24.11.1998 to 25.11.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served as Chair from 26.11.1998 to 26.3.2003; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.4.1999 to 23.8.1999; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served as Substitute member from 22.6.1999 to 16.3.2000; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.8.1999 to 20.9.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 22.9.1999 to 30.9.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 11.10.1999 to 8.10.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 12.10.1999 to 16.2.2000; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 12.10.1999 to 17.9.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.6.2000 to 12.10.2000; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 4.9.2000 to 8.10.2001; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.2000 to 8.10.2001; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 21.3.2002 to 6.3.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2002 to 2.12.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 27.3.2003 to 27.3.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.8.2003 to 28.10.2003; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.8.2003 to 11.9.2003; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.3.2004 to 23.3.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 11.5.2004 to 8.2.2005; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.5.2004 to 30.9.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2004 to 31.8.2004; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 7.12.2004 to 23.6.2005; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 30.6.2008; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served as Substitute member from 28.2.2007 to 17.10.2007; Economics served as Substitute member from 29.3.2007 to 9.5.2007; Economics served as Substitute member from 17.3.2008 to 30.5.2008
• Senate Select: Superannuation served from 1.7.1996 to 9.11.1998; Victorian Casino Inquiry served as Substitute member from 8.7.1996 to 10.8.1996; Superannuation and Financial Services served from 29.9.1999 to 8.10.2001; Lucas Heights Reactor served from 10.10.2000 to 2.11.2000; Superannuation served from 14.3.2002 to 20.8.2002; Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004; Mental Health served as Chair from 8.3.2005 to 28.4.2006
• Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 1.7.1996 to 30.6.2008; Appropriations and Staffing served from 25.8.1999 to 22.9.1999; Appropriations and Staffing served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Procedure served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Selection of Bills served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Parliamentary Library served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2008

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member of the Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, April 2002.
• Member of the Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, April 2008.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Democrats. Served: 01.07.1996 to 30.06.2008
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Community Services and Disability Services; Consumer Affairs; Local Government and Territories; Public Service; Schools from 1.7.1996 to 25.2.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Schools; Telecommunications; Public Service; Arts; Disability Services; Local Government and Territories; Housing from 25.2.1997 to 20.10.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Communications (excluding Broadcasting and Media); Disability Services; Housing; Local Government and Territories; Public Service; Schools from 20.10.1997 to 12.12.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Environment; Public Service; Local Government and Territories; Schools; Superannuation; Disability Services; Arts from 12.12.1997 to 1.1.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Centenary of Federation; Disabilities; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 1.1.1999 to 1.7.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Disability Services; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 1.7.1999 to 11.10.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 11.10.1999 to 20.3.2000.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Resources; Heritage; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 20.3.2000 to 14.2.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disability; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 14.2.2001 to 22.5.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disability; Energy and Resources and Nuclear Issues; Heritage; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 22.5.2001 to 1.7.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Telecommunications from 1.7.2002 to 21.8.2002.
• Australian Democrats Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2002 to 13.12.2004.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Local Government; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Telecommunications; Training from 21.8.2002 to 24.10.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Heritage; Schools and Training; Transport from 24.10.2002 to 2.4.2004.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 24.10.2002 to 3.11.2004.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Heritage; Schools and Training; Transport and Environment from 2.4.2004 to 13.12.2004.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Schools; Treasury; Training; Transport from 13.12.2004 to 1.7.2005.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 13.12.2004 to 30.6.2008.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Education; Health and Ageing; Resources, Energy and Infrastructure; Treasury and Commonwealth-State Relations from 1.7.2005 to 30.6.2008.

Personal

• Born: 21.10.1946, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEd (University of Melbourne).
• Administrator from 1964 to 1986.
• Secondary school teacher from 1987 to 1991.

Local Government service

• Councillor, City of Port Melbourne from 1992 to 1994.