Speeches Browse all speeches (Hansard) Biography Parliamentary service Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 1993. Defeated at general elections 1998. Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 4.5.2000 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. D Brownhill (resigned). and 2001. Retired with the expiration of term 2008. Parliamentary positions Temporary Chair of Committees from 27.8.2002 to 11.8.2005.Temporary Chair of Committees from 8.2.2007 to 30.6.2008. Ministerial appointments Parliamentary Secretary for Trade from 6.7.2005 to 27.1.2006.Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 27.1.2006 to 30.1.2007. Committee service Joint Select: Intelligence Services served from 28.6.2001 to 27.8.2001Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.1996 to 30.6.1999; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 9.5.2000 to 16.8.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 8.2.2007 to 30.6.2008; Treaties served from 11.3.2008 to 30.6.2008Joint Statutory: Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 31.5.1996 to 30.6.1999; Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 11.5.2000 to 8.10.2001; ASIO, ASIS and DSD served from 14.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Intelligence and Security served from 29.11.2004 to 10.8.2005; Intelligence and Security served from 16.8.2007 to 17.10.2007Senate Estimates: Estimates Group E served as Substitute member from 8.2.1994 to 8.2.1994; Estimates Group E served from 9.2.1994 to 9.10.1994Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs served from 18.8.1993 to 9.10.1994; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 10.10.1994 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 12.7.1996 to 12.8.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.9.1996 to 16.9.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.9.1996 to 19.9.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 10.11.1997 to 10.11.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 11.11.1997 to 30.6.1999; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served as Substitute member from 12.3.1999 to 12.3.1999; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 9.5.2000 to 11.8.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 9.5.2000 to 10.5.2000; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 11.5.2000 to 11.8.2005; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.10.2000 to 24.10.2000; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 13.10.2000 to 24.10.2000; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.8.2003 to 28.8.2003; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.2.2007 to 23.3.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 23.3.2007 to 30.6.2008Senate Select: Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Unresolved Whistleblower Cases served from 1.12.1994 to 26.10.1995; Aircraft Noise in Sydney served from 23.3.1995 to 30.11.1995; Uranium Mining and Milling served from 8.5.1996 to 15.5.1997; Lucas Heights Reactor served from 17.8.2000 to 23.5.2001Senate Standing: Publications served from 18.8.1993 to 26.6.1996; Scrutiny of Bills served from 8.5.1996 to 1.7.1996; Publications served as Chair from 27.6.1996 to 29.6.1999; Publications served from 30.6.1999 to 11.2.2002 Conferences, delegations and visits Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the European Institutions and bilateral visit to Spain, September-October 1995.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to 43rd CPA Conference, Mauritius, and bilateral visit to South Africa, September 1997.Member, Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade visit to Papua New Guinea, March 1999.Member, Official Australian Observer Mission to the Indonesian Elections, June 1999.Australian Representative to the Commonwealth Observer Mission to the Zimbabwe Elections, June 2000.Member, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade visit to East Timor, February 2001.Member, Australian Mission to Gallipoli, Turkey, Anzac Day, April 2001.Member, Senate Delegation to the Thai and Cambodian Senates, July 2001.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, April 2003.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, May 2003.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to East Timor, July 2003.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Mexico, September 2003.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Syria, Lebanon and Israel, November 2003.Official visit to North and South Vietnam, April 2004.Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Taiwan, May 2004.Attended Anzac Day Memorial Services at Kanchanaburi, Thailand, April 2005.Attended Australia-Fiji Business Forum, Fiji, October 2005.Attended Australian Business Delegation, Turkey and Oman, November 2005.Defence Parliamentary Secretary visits to ADF troops, Solomon Islands, May 2006.Defence Parliamentary Secretary visits to ADF troops, Solomon Islands, December 2006.ADF Parliamentary Program, RIMPAC, Hawaii, July 2006.Member, Parliamentary Delegation to India and the Philippines, September-October 2007. Parliamentary party positions The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 30.06.2008National Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.1993 to 30.06.1999, 04.05.2000 to 11.10.2003Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 9.8.2005 to 7.2.2007. Party positions Member of the National Party from 1978.Member of the National Party Central Council from 1984. Personal Born: 10.5.1954, Quirindi, AustraliaGender: MaleMarital Status: Married Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament LLB (University of Sydney).Wool and beef producer. Honours Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 25.1.2021.