Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 1998. Re-elected 2001, 2004, 2007. Elected to the House of Representatives for Durack, Western Australia, 2010, following electoral redistribution. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 1.6.2006 to 17.10.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; House served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Members' Interests served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Procedure served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Industry and Resources served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Transport and Regional Services served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Primary Industries and Resources served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Employment and Workplace Relations served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Regional Australia served from 25.10.2010 to 16.11.2010; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Regional Australia served from 25.8.2011 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 23.5.2001 to 8.10.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to New Caledonia and Vanuatu, November 2003.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, October 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Malaysia and Japan, April 2006.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Malaysia and Thailand, August 2008.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Canada and Mexico from April to May 2009.
• Parliamentary delegation member to New Zealand, March 2011.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Denmark, Sweden and Greece, April 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 03.10.1998 to 05.08.2013
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Roads and Transport from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport from 22.9.2008 to 10.11.2008.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources from 10.11.2008 to 8.12.2009.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Karratha Branch (WA) from 1987.

Personal

• Born: 19.11.1945, Southern Cross, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Catering manager from 1968 to 1978.
• Company director in air conditioning and building maintenance from 1978 to 1998.

Military Service

• RAN Catering 1964-67.

Electorate

• Name: Durack
• Location: northern Western Australia; it includes the centres of Broome, Carnarvon, Dampier, Derby, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Karratha, Newman, Port Hedland, Wiluna and Wyndham.
• Area: 1,587,760 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 85,782 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: mining, cattle, sheep, fishing, tropical fruits, vegetables and tourism.
• Includes: Durack includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Kimberly and North West, and parts of Central Wheatbelt, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Moore and Pilbara.