Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 5.9.1996 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Coates (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 1998. Re-elected 2004. Retired with the expiration of term 2011.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 12.3.2008 to 30.6.2011.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 4.9.1997 to 8.10.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2002 to 1.3.2004; National Capital and External Territories served from 2.12.2004 to 10.8.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2008 to 19.7.2010; Treaties served from 26.10.2010 to 30.6.2011; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 10.2.2011 to 30.6.2011
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 14.2.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References served from 10.9.1996 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 17.10.1996 to 23.9.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.3.1997 to 18.3.1997; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 18.3.1997 to 23.9.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 6.5.1997 to 9.5.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.5.1997 to 16.6.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.5.1997 to 9.5.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 27.5.1997 to 9.11.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 29.5.1997 to 10.9.2006; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.6.1998 to 12.6.1998; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.6.1998 to 11.2.1999; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.11.1998 to 2.12.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.12.1998 to 8.3.1999; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.3.1999 to 8.10.2001; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.10.2002 to 2.12.2002; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 27.3.2003 to 26.6.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.8.2003 to 28.10.2003; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.2.2004 to 31.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 11.2.2004 to 31.8.2004; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.2.2004 to 13.5.2004; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 11.2.2004 to 13.5.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 2.12.2004 to 6.10.2005; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.6.2006 to 7.12.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 11.9.2006 to 13.5.2009; Economics served as Substitute member from 11.9.2006 to 7.12.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Substitute member from 9.8.2007 to 14.8.2007; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 15.9.2009 to 13.5.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 9.2.2011 to 30.6.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 9.2.2011 to 30.6.2011; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 3.3.2011 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Select: Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served from 12.2.2004 to 5.8.2004; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 23.6.2004 to 15.11.2004; Agricultural and Related Industries served from 14.2.2008 to 15.9.2008; Agricultural and Related Industries served from 12.12.2008 to 23.8.2010
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 10.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Selection of Bills served as Chair from 12.2.2008 to 27.9.2010; Privileges served from 14.2.2008 to 15.9.2008; Privileges served from 12.12.2008 to 27.9.2010

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Study tour, Ireland, April 2001.
• Member, Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs Legislation visit to New Zealand, May 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, Belgium and UK, September 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, September-December 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Timor-Leste, August 2009.
• Parliamentary Adviser to the United Nations General Assembly, September-December 2010.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, June 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 05.09.1996 to 30.06.2011
• Shadow Minister for Primary Industries from 25.11.2001 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Resources from 25.11.2001 to 2.7.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 25.11.2001 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism, Regional Services and Territories from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Territories from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Transport from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Opposition Whip in the Senate from 19.10.1998 to 22.11.2001.
• Government Whip in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 27.9.2010.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1966.
• Member of Young Labor (NSW) from 1966 to 1976.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Reid Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1974 to 1983.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Council (NSW) from 1974 to 1983. .
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Bass Hill State Electorate Council (NSW) from 1974 to 1983.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Blaxland Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1974 to 1983.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW) from 1974 to 1983.
• Delegate to the National Young Labor Council, 1975.
• Vice-President of Young Labor (NSW), 1975.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Tas.) from 1983 to 1996.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 1988 to 1991.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1989 to 1991.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1993 to 1996.

Personal

• Born: 19.7.1951, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Research Officer for the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union Council from 1974 to 1982.
• Secretary of the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union (Tas.) from 1983 to 1992.
• Executive Member and Councillor of the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union and Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1983 to 1996.
• Vice-President of the Miscellaneous Workers' Division of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1991 to 1996.
• Joint Secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union (Tas.) from 1992 to 1996.