Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 18.9.1996 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice M Baume (resigned). Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 1998. Re-elected 2004 and 2010. Retired with the expiration of term 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet from 21.10.1998 to 19.3.2002.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 1.7.2014 to 4.3.2015
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.9.1996 to 7.10.1996; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 20.9.1996 to 7.10.1996; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.9.1996 to 9.10.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.9.1996 to 7.10.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 9.10.1996 to 9.11.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 14.10.1996 to 3.12.1998; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.2.1997 to 28.2.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.2.1997 to 27.2.1997; Economics: References served from 4.9.1997 to 3.12.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.11.1997 to 14.11.1997; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 14.11.1997 to 14.11.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 7.4.1998 to 8.4.1998; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 5.6.1998 to 5.6.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 5.6.1998 to 5.6.1998; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.6.2002 to 5.6.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.6.2002 to 7.6.2002; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 7.6.2002 to 7.6.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 19.6.2002 to 24.6.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 2.7.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.7.2002 to 10.9.2006; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 1.7.2005; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.7.2002 to 1.7.2005; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Chair from 3.7.2002 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 28.8.2002 to 3.12.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.10.2003 to 1.10.2003; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 11.9.2006 to 11.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served as Chair from 12.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 14.5.2009 to 7.2.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 13.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 8.2.2012 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 12.11.2014 to 12.11.2014; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 4.2.2016 to 15.3.2016; Community Affairs: References served from 4.2.2016 to 15.3.2016
• Senate Select: Socio-Economic Consequences of the National Competition Policy served from 8.7.1998 to 31.8.1998; A Certain Maritime Incident served from 11.3.2002 to 20.3.2002; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 17.6.2004 to 8.3.2005; Agricultural and Related Industries served from 14.2.2008 to 20.2.2008; Agricultural and Related Industries served as Chair from 21.2.2008 to 23.8.2010
• Senate Standing: Procedure served from 13.2.1997 to 30.11.2000; Selection of Bills served from 13.2.1997 to 9.11.1998; Appropriations and Staffing served from 5.4.2000 to 11.2.2008; House served from 12.3.2008 to 11.11.2013; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 18.09.1996 to 09.05.2016
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 11.2.1997 to 21.10.1998.

Party positions

• Country Representative of the Liberal Party.
• President of the Liberal Party (NSW) from 1993 to 1996.
• Chair of the Coalition Infrastructure, Rural and Regional Affairs Policy Committee from February 2008.

Personal

• Born: 3.3.1943, Junee, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• CertWoolClassing (Wagga Technical College).
• CertWelding (Wagga Technical College).
• Farmer.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Junee Shire Council from 1981 to 1996.
• President, Junee Shire Council from 1989 to 1990.
• President, Junee Shire Council from 1991 to 1993.