Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 8.3.1994 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. K Sibraa (resigned). Resigned 3.9.1998. Elected to the House of Representatives for Robertson, New South Wales, 2007. Retired prior to general elections 2010.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Communications served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Select: Certain Family Law Issues served from 17.3.1994 to 28.11.1995
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 31.5.1996 to 5.3.1998; Treaties served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 17.3.1994 to 29.1.1996; Corporations and Securities served from 17.3.1994 to 29.1.1996
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group D served from 17.3.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 14.5.1997; Community Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 9.11.1998; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.3.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.3.1995; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.2.1995 to 6.3.1995; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.1995 to 16.2.1995; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 29.3.1995 to 29.4.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 29.3.1995 to 29.4.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.11.1995 to 1.12.1995; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 14.5.1997 to 16.6.1997; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.9.1997 to 27.10.1997
• Senate Select: Aircraft Noise in Sydney served from 23.3.1995 to 30.11.1995
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 17.3.1994 to 1.7.1996; Publications served from 4.9.1997 to 3.9.1998; Parliamentary Library served from 4.9.1997 to 3.9.1998

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Canada and Mexico from April to May 2009.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 08.03.1994 to 03.09.1998, 24.11.2007 to 19.07.2010
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Assistant to the Shadow Minister for Health from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 3.9.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs and Local Government from 27.3.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Status of Women from 22.4.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Local Government, Housing and Childcare from 26.8.1997 to 3.9.1998.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1980.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW) from 1983.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 1984.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Committee on the Status of Women from 1984 to 1985.

Personal

• Born: 10.1.1963, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Sydney).
• Adviser.
• Officer for the Federated Ironworkers' Association from 1986 to 1987.
• Solicitor from 1987 to 1994.

Local Government service

• Alderman, Gosford City Council from 1992 to 1994.

Electorate

• Name: Robertson
• Location: north of Sydney; it includes the centres of Gosford, Terrigal, Woy Woy and Erina.
• Area: 721 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 94,334 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: tourism, retail, service industries, light manufacturing and processing, citrus, vegetables and flower growing, poultry products.
• Includes: Robertson includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Gosford, Terrigal and The Entrance.