Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Tangney, Western Australia, 2004. Re-elected 2007, 2010 and 2013. Defeated at general elections 2016.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Science and Innovation served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Transport and Regional Services served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Industry, Science and Innovation served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Education and Training served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Petitions served as Deputy Chair from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Petitions served as Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 25.10.2010 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 4.12.2013 to 19.10.2015
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 29.5.2006 to 17.10.2007

Parliamentary party positions

• Independent. Served: 09.05.2016 to 02.07.2016
• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 09.10.2004 to 09.05.2016

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Geelong Branch (Vic.) from 1997 to 2000.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Brand Division (WA) from 2003 to 2004.
• Member of the Liberal Party Willetton Branch (WA) from 2004 to 2009.
• Member of the Liberal Party Booragoon Branch (WA) from 2009.

Personal

• Born: 28.2.1962, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• PhD (Monash University).
• BAppSc (RMIT University).
• MSc (University of Melbourne).
• Air traffic controller from 1983 to 1986.
• Research scientist at the CSIRO from 1995 to 1999.
• Research scientist and defence analyst from 1999 to 2004.

Electorate

• Name: Tangney
• Location: southern Perth; it includes the suburbs of Alfred Cove, Applecross, Ardross, Attadale, Bateman, Bicton, Booragoon, Brentwood, Bull Creek, Ferndale, Kardinya (part), Leeming (part), Lynwood, Melville, Mount Pleasant, Murdoch, Myaree, Parkwood, Riverton, Rossmoyne, Shelley, Willagee, Willetton and Winthrop.
• Area: 83 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 94,025 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: light industrial, retail, commercial, medical, education and recreation.
• Includes: