Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 10.5.1994 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. G Richardson (resigned). Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 1998. Re-elected 2004. Retired with the expiration of term 2011.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Australian Political Exchange Council from June 2008 to 30.6.2011.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.2.2002 to 27.8.2002.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 9.8.2005 to 30.6.2011.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Retailing Sector served from 15.2.1999 to 30.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.1996 to 4.9.1997; Electoral Matters served from 1.12.2004 to 9.11.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2011
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 12.5.1994 to 29.1.1996; Public Works served from 14.2.2002 to 1.7.2005; Public Works served from 9.11.2005 to 28.2.2007; Corporations and Financial Services served from 24.10.2006 to 25.10.2006; Public Works served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2011; Intelligence and Security served from 15.5.2008 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group A served from 12.5.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs served from 12.5.1994 to 9.10.1994; Employment, Education and Training served from 9.6.1994 to 9.10.1994; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.5.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.11.1994 to 17.11.1994; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.2.1995 to 15.2.1995; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.3.1995 to 10.3.1995; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 2.5.1996 to 8.5.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Chair from 9.5.1996 to 19.6.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.7.1996 to 29.5.1997; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 9.7.1996 to 16.7.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.9.1996 to 16.9.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.9.1996 to 18.9.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.9.1996 to 24.9.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 6.5.1997 to 7.5.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.5.1997 to 8.5.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.1997 to 9.11.1998; Community Affairs: References served from 29.5.1997 to 3.12.1998; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 20.6.1997 to 23.9.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 4.9.1997 to 11.2.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 4.9.1997 to 9.11.1998; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.11.1998 to 2.12.1998; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 8.12.1998 to 1.9.1999; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.4.1999 to 11.8.1999; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.3.2001 to 3.4.2001; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.9.2001 to 26.9.2001; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 13.2.2002 to 13.2.2002; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 10.9.2006; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Chair from 14.2.2002 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.2004 to 20.2.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2004 to 31.8.2004; Finance and Public Administration served from 11.9.2006 to 14.5.2008; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 28.2.2007 to 13.5.2009; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 30.6.2011; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 14.5.2009 to 30.6.2011; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.10.2010 to 19.10.2010; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.3.2011 to 4.5.2011
• Senate Select: Australian Broadcasting Corporation Management and Operations served from 22.9.1994 to 30.3.1995; Unresolved Whistleblower Cases served as Substitute member from 16.3.1995 to 16.3.1995; Aircraft Noise in Sydney served from 23.3.1995 to 30.11.1995; Dangers of Radioactive Waste served from 1.9.1995 to 31.12.1995; Lucas Heights Reactor served as Chair from 17.8.2000 to 23.5.2001; Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004; Mental Health served from 10.3.2005 to 28.4.2006; State Government Financial Management served from 14.2.2008 to 18.9.2008
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 12.5.1994 to 23.9.1997; Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.3.1995 to 30.5.1995; Senators' Interests served from 13.2.2002 to 30.6.2011

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Poland, Hungary and Germany, September-October 1996.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, May 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK and the Netherlands, November-December 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, September-December 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland and France, October 2010.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.05.1994 to 30.06.2011
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary representing the Shadow Minister for Health in the Senate from 27.3.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 27.3.1997 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Ministers for Health and Primary Industries from 26.8.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary representing the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Senate from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services from 23.8.2002 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Review Tribunal and Economic Policy Committee (NSW).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Electorate Council.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Branch Organisational Review Committee (NSW).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Federal Conference.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Federal Electorate Council.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1967.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Engadine Branch (NSW) from 1982 to 1994.
• International Secretary of the Australian Labor Party from 2006.

Personal

• Born: 11.1.1952, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Hons) (University of Sydney).
• LLB (University of New South Wales).
• Electorate officer for the Minister for Labor and Immigration, Senator the Hon. J McClelland, 1975.
• Employment Officer at the Department of Labor and Immigration from 1975 to 1976.
• Senior Industrial Officer at the Australian Workers' Union from 1981 to 1989.
• Admitted as Barrister (NSW), 1985.
• Member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive from 1989 to 1993.
• Assistant General Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union from 1989 to 1991.
• General Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union from 1991 to 1993.
• Joint National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union-Federation of Industrial Manufacturing and Engineering from 1993 to 1994.
• Member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Council from 1993.