Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Werriwa, New South Wales at by-election 2005, vice M Latham (resigned). Re-elected 2007. Elected to the House of Representatives for Fowler, New South Wales, 2010, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 2013, 2016 and 2019. Retired prior to general elections 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 26.5.2014 to 16.05.2015.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 10.5.2005 to 17.10.2007; Science and Innovation served from 10.5.2005 to 17.10.2007; Publications served from 16.6.2005 to 18.2.2008; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served from 12.9.2005 to 6.12.2006; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served as Deputy Chair from 7.12.2006 to 17.10.2007; House served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Publications served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 14.5.2013; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 19.2.2008 to 11.2.2010; Selection served from 30.9.2010 to 6.7.2011; House served from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Selection served from 14.8.2012 to 10.9.2012; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 13.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Selection served from 14.5.2013 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 14.5.2013 to 23.10.2014; House served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations and Administration served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Selection served from 30.8.2016 to 11.4.2022; Appropriations and Administration served from 17.10.2016 to 11.4.2022; House served from 17.10.2016 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 23.7.2019 to 30.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 31.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission served from 12.9.2005 to 25.11.2010; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 18.2.2008 to 16.7.2014; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 18.2.2008 to 5.8.2013; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 3.7.2011; Law Enforcement served as Chair from 4.7.2011 to 15.5.2013; Law Enforcement served from 16.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Law Enforcement served from 15.9.2016 to 15.6.2017

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 19.03.2005 to 11.04.2022
• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 3.12.2007 to 5.7.2011.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 13.5.2013 to 5.8.2013.
• Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 14.10.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 30.8.2016 to 11.4.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1975.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1955, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• CertPersAdmin (NSW TAFE).
• DipLabourRel&Law (University of Sydney).
• Clerical officer for the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board from 1972 to 1978.
• Industrial officer for the Public Service Professional Officers' Association (NSW) from 1978 to 1986.
• Industrial officer for the Australian Workers' Union from 1986 to 1995.
• Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union from 1995 to 1997.
• Senior adviser for the Police Federation of Australia and New Zealand from 1997 to 1999.
• Self-employed business adviser from 1999 to 2005.

Electorate

• Name: Fowler
• Location: Fowler covers an area from Chipping Norton, Lansvale and Fairfiled East in the east to Liverpool, Bonnyrigg (part), Edensor Park and Abbotsbury in the west. The southern boundary extends south along Newbridge Road, Georges River, the Western Motorway, Liverpool Street, Calabro Avenue and Park Road. The northern boundary follows Fairfield Street, Pine Road, Prospect Creek, Orphan School Creek, King Road, Polding Street, Mimosa Road, The Horsley Drive, Cowpasture Road and part of the western boundary of Abbotsbury. Suburbs include Abbotsbury, Bonnyrigg (part), Bossley Park (part), Cabramatta, Cabramatta West, Canley Heights, Canley Vale, Carramar, Chipping Norton, Edensor park (part), Fairfield East, Greenfield Park (part), Lansvale, Liverpool, Mount Pritchard, Prairiewood (part), Wakeley and Warwick Farm.
• Area: 60 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 106,941 (at 13.6.2019)
• Industries: Light manufacturing, retail and service industries.