Biography

Parliamentary service

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

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 6.2.2007 to 9.3.2010.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Address in Reply served from 10.11.1998 to 10.11.1998
• House of Representatives Standing: Primary Industries and Regional Services served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Environment and Heritage served from 29.3.2001 to 8.10.2001; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Transport and Regional Services served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Members' Interests served from 9.2.2006 to 17.10.2007; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 9.2.2006 to 17.10.2007; Family, Community, Housing and Youth served from 30.11.2009 to 10.2.2010; Selection served from 30.9.2010 to 5.8.2013; Privileges and Members' Interests served as Deputy Chair from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 9.3.2010; National Capital and External Territories served from 25.10.2010 to 20.8.2012
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Public Works served from 10.5.2011 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia and the Republic of Korea, July 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Nigeria and South Africa, October-November 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, May 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK and Singapore, May 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, July 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Auckland, January 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to South Africa, Jordan and United Arab Emirates, April 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, June 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, September-October 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Thailand, Hong Kong and China, March-April 2010.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland and France, October 2010.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Brazil and Panama, April 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland, Germany and Austria, October 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Uganda, Kazakhstan and Hungary, March-April 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 03.10.1998 to 05.08.2013
• Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 26.2.2010 to 5.8.2013.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party State Council (SA) from 1982.
• Vice-President of the Federal Young Liberals from 1985 to 1987.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1985 to 1987.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (SA) from 1985 to 1987.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (SA) from 1996 to 1998.
• Chairman of the Liberal Party Regional and Rural Committee (SA) from 1996 to 1998.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1996 to 1998.

Personal

• Born: 6.6.1956, Happy Valley, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEc(Pols) (Flinders University).
• Primary producer from 1974 to 1998.
• Director of Maluka Investments from 1984 to 1994.
• Small business retailer from 1985 to 1986.
• Director of the Upper South East Co-op from 1995 to 1996.
• Director of Green Desert Seeds from 1996 to 1999.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Meadows District Council from 1981 to 1983.
• Councillor, Mt Barker District Council from 1983 to 1992.
• Chair, Southern Hills Local Government Association from 1988 to 1990.
• Deputy Mayor, Mt Barker District Council from 1991 to 1992.

Electorate

• Name: Barker
• Location: south-eastern South Australia; it includes the centres of Barmera, Berri, Bordertown, Keith, Kingscote, Kingston SE, Loxton, Mannum, Millicent, Mt Gambier, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Nuriootpa, Penola, Renmark, Tailem Bend, Tanunda and Waikerie.
• Area: 64,015 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 104,888 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: beef and dairy cattle, sheep, fishing, cropping, forestry, timber, paper products, wine, fresh and dried fruit, vegetables, transport and tourism.
• Includes: Barker includes the South Australian House of Assembly electorates of Chaffey, MacKillop and Mount Gambier, and parts of Hammond, Kavel, Light, Schubert and Stuart.