Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Hunter, New South Wales, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 (The Division of Hunter was abolished as part of the 2016 redistribution however the Division of Charlton was renamed the Division of Hunter in the same year). and 2019. Retired prior to general elections 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 19.10.2010 to 11.4.2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Defence from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 24.6.2010.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Regional Australia served from 7.12.2020 to 9.12.2020; Regional Australia served as Deputy Chair from 10.12.2020 to 15.3.2022
• House of Representatives Standing: Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Industry and Resources served from 21.10.2002 to 31.8.2004; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 2.12.2004 to 7.2.2007; Economics served from 15.6.2009 to 19.7.2010; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.2.2010 to 19.7.2010; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 28.9.2010 to 13.5.2013; Selection served from 30.9.2010 to 14.5.2013; House served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Procedure served from 25.10.2010 to 14.5.2013; Appropriations and Administration served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Regional Australia served from 9.5.2012 to 6.2.2013; Economics served from 20.9.2012 to 5.8.2013; Publications served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Selection served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Agriculture and Industry served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2022; Agriculture and Water Resources served from 15.6.2017 to 10.9.2018
• Joint Select: Retailing Sector served from 9.2.1999 to 30.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.6.2009 to 13.5.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Northern Australia served from 23.7.2019 to 10.9.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.12.2020 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.1.1998 to 31.8.1998

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.03.1996 to 11.04.2022
• Shadow Minister for Small Business and Tourism from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Resources from 25.11.2001 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism from 2.7.2003 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Mining, Energy and Forestry from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Assistant Treasurer from 26.10.2004 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Revenue from 26.10.2004 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Small Business and Competition from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Agriculture from 18.10.2013 to 13.10.2015.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 10.11.2020.
• Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs from 1.7.2014 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 13.10.2015 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Australia from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources from 2.6.2019 to 10.11.2020.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 27.9.2010 to 13.5.2013.

Party positions

• Delegate of Young Labor (NSW) from 1985 to 1986.
• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party Cessnock Branch (NSW) from 1985 to 1996.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Cessnock State Electorate Council (NSW) from 1986 to 1996.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Hunter Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1990 to 1996.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW) from 1990.
• Campaign Director for the Australian Labor Party (NSW), 1991.
• Campaign Director for the Australian Labor Party (NSW), 1995.

Personal

• Born: 16.1.1962, Bellingen, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• GradCertBA (University of Newcastle).
• Part-time TAFE lecturer.
• Small business operator.
• Automotive electrician from 1978 to 1990.
• Electorate officer to E Fitzgibbon, MP from 1990 to 1996.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Cessnock City Council from 1987 to 1995.
• Deputy Mayor, Cessnock City Council from 1989 to 1990.

Electorate

• Name: Hunter
• Location: Hunter includes the Muswellbrook Shire Council, Singleton Council, Cessnock City Council (part) and Lake Macquarie City Council (part). The main towns include Broke, Cessnock, Denman, Mulbring, Muswellbrook, Paxton, Putty, Singleton, Widden and Wyee.
• Area: 10,640 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 121,436 (at 7.6.2019)
• Industries: Agriculture, coal-mining, dairy farming, engineering, farming, forestry, fruit and vegetables, horse studs and racing, timber milling, tourism, wine grapes, wineries and wool. Liddell and Bayswater Power Stations are also in the division.