Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Parramatta, New South Wales, 2004. Re-elected 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. Retired prior to general elections 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 24.5.2012 to 5.8.2013.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 24.8.2020 to 11.4.2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Economics served from 19.2.2008 to 23.8.2011; Procedure served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 15.3.2012; Publications served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Economics served as Chair from 24.8.2011 to 5.8.2013; Procedure served from 16.3.2012 to 5.8.2013; Appropriations and Administration served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations and Administration served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Tax and Revenue served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Appropriations and Administration served as Deputy Chair from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Tax and Revenue served as Deputy Chair from 25.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Corporations and Financial Services served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Public Works served from 25.2.2021 to 11.4.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 09.10.2004 to 11.04.2022
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education from 18.10.2013 to 13.10.2015.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education from 13.10.2015 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Small Business from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

Personal

• Born: 17.10.1958, Rockhampton, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MBA (University of Sydney).
• BA (Queensland Conservatorium of Music).
• Production Manager at the Lyric Opera of Queensland from 1985 to 1989.
• Senior Program Officer at the Australia Council from 1989 to 1993.
• Small business owner from 1994 to 2000.
• Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Independent Record Labels from 2000 to 2004.

Electorate

• Name: Parramatta
• Location: Parramatta covers an area from Carlingford (part) and Rydalmere in the east to Toongabbie and South Wentworthville in the west. The main suburbs include Carlingford (part), Constitution Hill, Dundas, Granville, Harris Park, Holroyd, Merrylands, Mays Hill, Oatlands, Old Toongabbie, Parramatta, Pendle Hill, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Toongabbie, South Wentworthville, Wentworthville and Westmead.
• Area: 57 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 103,122 (at 11.6.2019)
• Industries: Retail, financial services, transport industry, building materials, major industry, tourism and higher education with the Western Sydney University's Parramatta campus.