Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2007. Re-elected 2013 and 2016. Retired with the expiration of term 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 7.7.2011 to 11.11.2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Homelessness from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Parliamentary Budget Office served from 22.11.2010 to 23.3.2011; Broadcasting Legislation served from 14.3.2013 to 6.4.2013; Broadcasting Legislation served as Chair from 7.4.2013 to 24.6.2013
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2008 to 1.7.2011; National Broadband Network served from 23.3.2011 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 1.7.2008 to 5.8.2013
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Economics served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Economics: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 30.9.2010 to 1.7.2011; Economics: References served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 4.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.5.2012 to 31.5.2012; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 24.3.2015 to 14.5.2015; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 1.12.2015 to 3.12.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 30.8.2016 to 1.9.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 30.8.2016 to 1.9.2016
• Senate Select: Climate Policy served from 18.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Scrutiny of New Taxes served from 30.9.2010 to 1.11.2011; Health served from 26.6.2014 to 14.5.2015; Health served as Substitute member from 7.3.2016 to 8.3.2016; Health served as Substitute member from 22.3.2016 to 22.3.2016; Health served as Substitute member from 29.4.2016 to 29.4.2016; Health served as Substitute member from 2.5.2016 to 3.5.2016; Health served as Substitute member from 5.5.2016 to 5.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2008 to 1.7.2011; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2008 to 30.9.2010; Privileges served from 30.9.2010 to 1.7.2011

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to 30.06.2019
• Shadow Minister for Human Services from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships from 23.7.2016 to 24.10.2017.
• Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Apprenticeships from 24.10.2017 to 2.6.2019.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (NSW).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.

Other positions

• Member of the Australian Best Practice Committee.

Personal

• Born: 27.1.1951, Bellshill, Scotland
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• City and Guilds qualified fitter and machinist.
• Maintenance fitter.
• Organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
• Trustee for the Superannuation Trust of Australia.
• Assistant Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (NSW).
• Assistant Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
• Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
• Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1999 to 2007.
• Director of Australian Super Pty. Ltd. from 2006 to 2007.

Publications

• Australia at the crossroads: choosing a better way forward, AMWU, Granville, NSW: 2002.