Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1993. Re-elected 1998, 2004 and 2010. Resigned 12.4.2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 3.12.2007 to 14.9.2010.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 4.2.2013.
• Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research from 14.12.2011 to 4.2.2013.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 1.7.1993 to 29.1.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 14.2.2002 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served as Chair from 25.3.1994 to 29.1.1996; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 30.1.1996 to 31.8.1998; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 7.9.2005 to 23.3.2006
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group B served from 1.7.1993 to 9.10.1994; Estimates Group A served from 25.2.1994 to 26.2.1994; Estimates Group D served as Substitute member from 18.3.1994 to 19.4.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs served from 1.7.1993 to 9.6.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 1.7.1993 to 9.10.1994; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 21.9.1994 to 10.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.3.1995; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.3.1995; Economics: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Economics: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.11.1994 to 2.12.1994; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.1995 to 16.2.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 29.3.1995 to 29.4.1996; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 29.3.1995 to 29.4.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 13.2.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 2.5.1996 to 13.2.1997; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.9.1996 to 18.9.1996; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.10.1996 to 23.10.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.3.1997 to 18.3.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.5.1997 to 8.5.1997; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.5.1997 to 8.5.1997; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.6.1997 to 3.6.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 8.4.1998 to 9.11.1998; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 9.4.1998 to 24.4.1998; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.6.1998 to 10.6.1998; Community Affairs: References served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 24.11.2003 to 15.11.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 8.3.2005 to 18.8.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 14.9.2005 to 15.9.2005
• Senate Select: Superannuation served from 1.9.1993 to 9.11.1998; Certain Land Fund Matters served from 19.9.1995 to 30.11.1995
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.1993 to 29.4.1996; House served from 1.3.1995 to 30.5.1995; Selection of Bills served from 30.4.1996 to 9.11.1998; Privileges served from 24.11.1998 to 15.11.2004; Appropriations and Staffing served from 16.11.2004 to 4.2.2013; Procedure served from 18.11.2004 to 4.2.2013; Privileges served from 28.11.2005 to 11.12.2005

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Chair, Official Committee Exchange to New Zealand by Joint Committee on Native Title, August 1995.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to East Timor, March 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, February 2004.
• Official visits to Indonesia, January 2008.
• Official visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, August 2008.
• Official visits to Vietnam, January 2009.
• Official visits to Indonesia, March and April 2009.
• Official visits to India and Sri Lanka, July 2009.
• Official visits to China, November 2010.
• Official visits to Indonesia, July 2011.
• Official visits to India, July-August 2011.
• Official visits to France and Belgium, September 2011.
• Official visits to China and Italy, February 2012.
• Official visits to Indonesia, July 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1993 to 12.04.2013
• Shadow Minister for Family Services and the Aged from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.10.1998 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 25.11.2001 to 2.8.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 6.12.2002 to 18.2.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Reconciliation from 6.12.2002 to 18.2.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement, Science and Personnel from 2.8.2004 to 26.10.2004.
• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 22.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Social Security from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for National Development, Resources and Energy from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Opposition Whip in the Senate from 20.3.1996 to 19.10.1998.
• Leader of the Government in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 4.2.2013.

Party positions

• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (WA).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (WA).
• Treasurer of the Australian Labor Party (WA).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (WA) from 1991 to 1993.

Personal

• Born: 14.5.1958, Cuckfield, England
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Western Australia).
• Industrial officer at the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1982 to 1987.
• Secretary of the Fire Brigade Union (WA) from 1987 to 1990.