Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Granville, 1984. Resigned 17.2.1990 to contest the House of Representatives division of Reid, New South Wales.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Reid, New South Wales, 1990. Re-elected 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007. Elected to the House of Representatives for Werriwa, New South Wales, 2010, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 2013. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 16.5.2015 to 9.5.2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services from 3.12.2007 to 14.9.2010.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Industry, Science and Technology served from 16.5.1990 to 29.1.1996; Long Term Strategies served from 1.6.1990 to 8.2.1993; Parliamentary Library served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Employment, Education and Training served from 12.5.1993 to 27.6.1994; Parliamentary Library served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Communications and the Arts served from 10.11.2015 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 17.5.1990 to 29.1.1996; Migration served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Electoral Matters served from 19.9.1995 to 20.9.1995; Electoral Matters served as Chair from 21.9.1995 to 17.6.1996; Electoral Matters served from 18.6.1996 to 9.3.1998; Treaties served from 18.6.1996 to 12.8.1999; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 10.3.1998 to 26.6.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.8.1999 to 31.8.2004; Migration served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 25.10.2010 to 19.9.2012; Treaties served from 14.3.2012 to 20.9.2012; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 5.2.2013 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 14.3.2013 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 29.5.1996 to 19.6.1997; Human Rights served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.03.1990 to 09.05.2016
• Shadow Minister for Administrative Services from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 27.3.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 27.3.1997 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Forestry and Conservation from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 25.11.2001 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 23.8.2002 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Population, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Immigration from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Population Health and Health Regulation from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Urban Development and Consumer Affairs from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (NSW).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Foreign Affairs Committee (NSW).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Disputes Committee (NSW).
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Reid Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1976 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 7.7.1952, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MA (University of Sydney).
• BEc (University of Sydney).
• Research Officer at the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1976 to 1984.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Granville, 1984. Resigned 17.2.1990 to contest the House of Representatives division of Reid, New South Wales.

Electorate

• Name: Werriwa
• Location: outer south western Sydney; it includes the suburbs of Austral, Bardia, Bow Bowing, Casula, Claymore, Denham Court, Edmondson Park, Eschol Park, Glenfield, Horningsea Park, Hoxton Park, Ingleburn, Leppington, Lurnea, Macquarie Fields, Minto, Minto Heights, Prestons, Raby, St Andrews, Varroville, and parts of Liverpool, Leumeah and West Hoxton.
• Area: 159 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 96,020 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: light manufacturing, retail and service industries.
• Includes: Werriwa includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Camden, Campbelltown, Holsworthy, Liverpool and Macquarie Fields.

Honours

• Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, 10.6.2019.