Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 13.3.1986 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice P Rae (resigned). Re-elected 1987, 1990 and 1996. Resigned 1.2.2002.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Social Security from 11.3.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from 11.3.1996 to 9.10.1997.
• Cabinet Minister from 11.3.1996 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister for Family and Community Services from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.

Committee service

• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group D served from 20.3.1986 to 5.6.1987; Estimates Group E served from 24.9.1987 to 29.9.1988; Estimates Group D served as Substitute member from 29.9.1988 to 19.2.1990; Estimates Group B served from 9.5.1990 to 20.8.1992; Estimates Group E served as Substitute member from 5.3.1992 to 20.8.1992; Estimates Group E served from 20.8.1992 to 3.5.1993; Estimates Group C served from 6.5.1993 to 9.6.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education and the Arts served from 3.6.1986 to 5.6.1987; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 24.9.1987 to 7.5.1990; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.11.1995 to 6.11.1995; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.6.2001 to 8.6.2001
• Senate Select: Education of Gifted and Talented Children served from 22.9.1987 to 18.5.1988; Public Interest Whistleblowing served from 27.9.1993 to 17.10.1993; Public Interest Whistleblowing served as Chair from 18.10.1993 to 31.8.1994
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 17.4.1986 to 5.6.1987

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended official meetings in the UK, France, Spain and Portugal, November 1996.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, July 1997.
• Attended official meetings in China and India, September 1997.
• Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, USA and Italy, July 1999.
• Attended official meetings in China, September 1999.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, June 2000.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, July 2000.
• Attended study tour in Cambodia and Vietnam, March 2001.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1986 to 01.02.2002
• Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 16.9.1988 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Status of Women from 11.6.1989 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Status of Women from 11.4.1990 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 11.4.1990 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel from 11.4.1990 to 28.4.1992.
• Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 28.4.1992 to 7.8.1992.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 7.8.1992 to 22.5.1994.
• Shadow Minister for the Aged from 7.8.1992 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Family and Health from 7.4.1993 to 22.5.1994.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Family Matters from 7.4.1993 to 22.5.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 25.9.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 25.9.1994 to 11.3.1996.

Personal

• Born: 8.7.1937, Melbourne, Australia
• Died: 1.4.2018
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Melbourne).
• Barrister and solicitor.
• Heritage developer.
• Hotelier.
• Farmer.
• Founding Member, Women's Shelters in Hobart and Launceston.
• Member, State Executive, National Trust (Tas).
• Member, Federal Executive, Australian Garden History Society.
• Deputy Chair, Association of Independent Schools of Tasmania.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 13.6.2005.

Publications

• Australian women speak: a report on the issues facing Australian women and their hopes and expectations for Australia's future, Australia 2000, Canberra: 1992.