Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 14.10.1998 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice B Neal (resigned). Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 1998. Re-elected 2004. Defeated at general elections 2010.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 22.8.2002 to 30.6.2011.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 17.8.2000 to 1.7.2002; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 19.8.2002 to 17.10.2007; Parliamentary Library served from 30.3.2006 to 30.6.2011; Electoral Matters served from 14.2.2008 to 15.9.2009
• Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission served from 21.3.2002 to 1.7.2005; Australian Crime Commission served as Chair from 14.2.2008 to 25.11.2010; Law Enforcement served as Chair from 25.11.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 24.11.1998 to 9.8.1999; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served from 24.11.1998 to 3.12.1998; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 9.8.1999 to 4.10.2000; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.5.2000 to 19.6.2000; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 17.8.2000 to 1.7.2002; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 25.3.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Chair from 1.7.2002 to 28.3.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 24.3.2004 to 24.3.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 25.3.2004 to 10.9.2006; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Chair from 25.3.2004 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: References served from 29.3.2004 to 1.7.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 30.6.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.6.2009 to 17.9.2009; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 29.9.2010 to 30.9.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 30.9.2010 to 9.2.2011
• Senate Select: Fuel and Energy served from 26.6.2008 to 30.8.2010; Scrutiny of New Taxes served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 24.11.1998 to 9.8.1999; Senators' Interests served from 24.11.1998 to 9.8.1999; Publications served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2005; Privileges served from 7.9.2005 to 28.11.2005; Parliamentary Library served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2011

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK and the Netherlands, November-December 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, June-July 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Republic of Korea and USA, September 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Chile, Colombia and Argentina, August 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, USA, Italy, Austria, UK and the Netherlands, April-May 2009.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 14.10.1998 to 30.06.2011

Party positions

• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 1994 to 1998.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1997 to 2002.
• President of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 1998 to 2002.
• Vice-President of the Federal Australian Labor Party from 2000 to 2002.

Personal

• Born: 22.4.1956, Sydney, Australia
• Died: 24.11.2017
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Sydney).
• Trade Union Program.
• Forklift driver and loader from 1978 to 1979.
• Garbage collector from 1979 to 1980.
• Union official at the Transport Workers' Union from 1980 to 1998.
• Assistant Secretary of the Transport Workers' Union (NSW) from 1989 to 1993.
• Secretary and Treasurer of the Transport Workers' Union (NSW) from 1993 to 1998.
• President of the Transport Workers' Union from 1993 to 1998.
• Member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive from 1996 to 1998.