Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Capricornia, Queensland, 1998. Re-elected 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 20.10.2010 to 5.8.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2000; Communications, Transport and the Arts served from 9.10.2000 to 8.10.2001; Environment and Heritage served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Transport and Regional Services served from 20.8.2002 to 2.12.2002; Education and Vocational Training served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Family, Community, Housing and Youth served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Primary Industries and Resources served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Regional Australia served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition of Local Government served from 26.11.2012 to 7.3.2013
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 27.11.2012 to 28.11.2012; Public Works served as Chair from 29.11.2012 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended 13th Annual Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Vietnam, January 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the USA from September to October 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 03.10.1998 to 05.08.2013
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage from 25.11.2001 to 18.2.2003.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Sustainability and the Environment from 18.2.2003 to 2.7.2003.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Sustainability, the Environment and Heritage from 2.7.2003 to 16.3.2004.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Education and Training from 16.3.2004 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Law and Law Enforcement Policy Committee (Qld) from 1996 to 1998.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Women's Policy Committee (Qld) from 1996 to 1998.

Personal

• Born: 10.11.1969, Mackay, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BCom (University of Queensland).
• LLB (University of Queensland).
• Organiser for the Community and Public Sector Union, 1995.
• Solicitor from 1996 to 1998.

Electorate

• Name: Capricornia
• Location: central eastern Queensland; it includes the city of Rockhampton and the towns of Collinsville, Dysart, Emu Park, Glenden, Marlborough, Mirani, Moranbah, Nebo, St Lawrence, Sarina, Yeppoon, and parts of Clermont and Middlemount. Capricornia also contains Great Keppel Island and nearby islands.
• Area: 91,049 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 91,962 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: primary production, grains, beef cattle, grazing, fishing, coal mining, meat works, dairy products and tourism.
• Includes: Capricornia includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Keppel, and parts of Burdekin, Dalrymple, Gregory, Mirani and Rockhampton.