Biography

Parliamentary service

• Appointed by the Governor of Victoria on 30.4.1996 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. G Evans, QC (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Victoria 1998. Re-elected 2004 and 2010 and 2016. Resigned 30.9.2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy from 3.12.2007 to 1.7.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity from 14.9.2010 to 1.7.2013.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 31.5.1996 to 27.11.1997; Electoral Matters served from 24.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 30.9.2016
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served from 31.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Corporations and Securities served from 4.9.1997 to 8.10.2001; Corporations and Financial Services served from 14.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Public Accounts and Audit served from 5.2.2003 to 10.9.2003; Intelligence and Security served from 16.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 4.9.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 2.5.1996 to 4.9.1997; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.9.1996 to 25.9.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 24.11.1998 to 9.8.1999; Economics: References served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 18.10.1999 to 22.11.1999; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.12.1999 to 3.12.1999; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.8.2000 to 5.10.2000; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.9.2001 to 8.10.2001; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 21.3.2002 to 6.2.2003; Economics: References served from 19.8.2002 to 5.2.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 1.7.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 18.11.2004 to 9.2.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 7.9.2005 to 12.9.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 17.3.2014 to 21.3.2014; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.3.2015 to 10.3.2015
• Senate Select: Superannuation served from 29.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; New Tax System served from 26.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; Superannuation and Financial Services served from 30.9.1999 to 8.10.2001; Superannuation served as Substitute member from 20.6.2002 to 20.6.2002; Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served from 12.2.2004 to 5.8.2004; National Broadband Network served from 14.11.2013 to 5.12.2013; National Broadband Network served as Chair from 6.12.2013 to 19.12.2013; National Broadband Network served from 20.12.2013 to 4.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Appropriations and Staffing served from 4.2.2013 to 26.6.2013; Procedure served from 4.2.2013 to 26.6.2013

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 30.04.1996 to 30.09.2016
• Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Regulation from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.10.1998 to 3.12.2007.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 22.11.2001 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Finance, Small Business and Financial Services from 25.11.2001 to 2.7.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Trade, Corporate Governance, Financial Services and Small Business from 2.7.2003 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Trade, Corporate Governance and Financial Services from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Communications and Information Technology from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 14.10.2013 to 11.10.2016.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 14.10.2013 to 30.9.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Special Minister of State from 23.7.2016 to 30.9.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Sport from 23.7.2016 to 30.9.2016.
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 4.2.2013.
• Leader of the Government in the Senate from 4.2.2013 to 26.6.2013.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1998.

Personal

• Born: 18.1.1963, Ely, England
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEc (Australian National University).
• Superannuation Officer for the Transport Workers' Union.
• Research Assistant.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Footscray Council.