Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Riverina, New South Wales, 1998. Re-elected 2001, 2004 and 2007. Retired prior to general elections 2010.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Publications served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 20.3.2002 to 6.2.2003; Family and Community Affairs served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Publications served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Parliamentary Library served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Selection served from 14.8.2006 to 17.10.2007; Petitions served from 11.3.2008 to 26.8.2008; Publications served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Communications served from 26.8.2008 to 1.9.2008; Communications served as Deputy Chair from 2.9.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 6.2.2003 to 31.8.2004; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 8.5.2007 to 17.10.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 3.12.2008 to 19.7.2010

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, Belgium and UK, September 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Vanuatu, December 2004.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to 112th IPU Conference, the Philippines, and bilateral visit to the Solomon Islands, March-April 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland and Singapore, October 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to South Africa, April-May 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland and Portugal, October 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Cambodia and Indonesia, April-May 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Bhutan and Mongolia, June-July 2010.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 19.07.2010
• National Party of Australia. Served: 03.10.1998 to 11.10.2003
• Nationals Whip in the House of Representatives from 14.8.2006 to 19.7.2010.

Other positions

• Paul Harris Fellow for the Rotary Foundation.
• Member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union from 2008.
• Member of the Parliamentary HIV/AIDS Taskforce from 2008.

Personal

• Born: 3.2.1954, Guyra, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Board Member of Tourism New South Wales.
• Chair of the Council of Tourist Associations (NSW).
• Chair of Tourism Wagga Wagga.
• Small business owner and operator from 1978.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Wagga Wagga City Council from 1991 to 1998.
• Deputy Mayor, Wagga Wagga City Council from 1995 to 1998.

Electorate

• Name: Riverina
• Location: central western New South Wales; it includes the rural cities of Griffith and Wagga Wagga and the towns of Coleambally, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Junee, Leeton, Narrandera, Stockinbingal, Tarcutta, Temora and West Wyalong.
• Area: 42,201 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 91,324 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: wheat, barley, canola, rice and cereal crops, fat lambs, wool, poultry, dairying, cattle, ostrich, emu, deer and goat farming, food processing, fruit, grapes, and wine making, flour milling, concrete pipes, steel construction, brick kiln, saw milling, joinery, plaster works, tourism, higher education (including Charles Sturt University), CSIRO research and technology, and defence forces.
• Includes: Riverina includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Burrinjuck, Murray-Darling, Murrumbidgee and Wagga Wagga.

Honours

• Received the Rod Murdoch Award for outstanding contribution to tourism development (NSW).
• Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 8.6.2015.
• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 14.6.2021.