Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 16.5.1990 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. F Chaney (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1993. Re-elected 1998 and 2004. Resigned 31.5.2007.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment from 11.3.1996 to 11.11.1996.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer from 11.11.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer from 26.11.2001 to 7.10.2003.
• Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads from 7.10.2003 to 18.7.2004.
• Minister for the Environment and Heritage from 18.7.2004 to 30.1.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.7.2004 to 9.3.2007.
• Minister for Human Services from 30.1.2007 to 9.3.2007.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Securities served from 6.3.1991 to 4.5.1994; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served as Deputy Chair from 25.3.1994 to 29.1.1996
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group C served as Substitute member from 24.8.1990 to 8.2.1993; Estimates Group E served from 21.2.1991 to 5.3.1992; Estimates Group A served from 5.3.1992 to 3.5.1993; Estimates Group E served from 8.2.1994 to 12.5.1994; Estimates Group A served as Substitute member from 12.5.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 11.9.1990 to 18.8.1993; Finance and Public Administration served from 17.9.1990 to 9.10.1994; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.5.1995 to 30.5.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.10.1995 to 23.10.1995; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served from 8.5.1996 to 30.6.1996; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.6.1996 to 19.8.1996; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.9.1996 to 10.10.1996; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.9.1997 to 3.10.1997
• Senate Select: Land Fund Bill served as Chair from 30.11.1994 to 9.2.1995; Certain Land Fund Matters served as Chair from 19.9.1995 to 30.11.1995
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 8.5.1996 to 29.10.1996; Selection of Bills served from 14.10.1996 to 15.11.2004; Procedure served from 30.11.2000 to 1.7.2002; Procedure served from 25.3.2003 to 15.11.2004; Publications served from 23.3.2007 to 31.5.2007

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Coalition Parliamentary Delegation to Taiwan, July 1992.
• Exchange Program, France, September-October 1992.
• Attended Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, April-May 1996.
• Official visits to USA, April 2002.
• Official visits to USA, April 2003.
• Official visits to Marshall Islands, June 2003.
• Official visits to New Zealand, November 2004.
• Official visits to Argentina, December 2004.
• Official visits to UK, March 2005.
• Official visits to Switzerland, France, Denmark, Ireland, UK and Sweden, May-June 2005.
• Official visits to Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tonga, June 2005.
• Official visits to Republic of Korea, June 2005.
• Official visits to Indonesia, September 2005.
• Official visits to Canada, September 2005.
• Official visits to UK, October-November 2005.
• Attended Commission on Sustainable Development, New York, April 2005.
• Official visits to Canada, December 2005.
• Official visits to USA, May 2006.
• Official visits to Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Vanuatu, May-June 2006.
• Official visits to St Kitts and Nevis, June 2006.
• Official visits to Switzerland, September 2006.
• Official visits to China, October 2006.
• Official visits to Kenya, November 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 16.05.1990 to 31.05.2007
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 17.1.1994 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 6.11.1996 to 17.11.2004.

Party positions

• President of the Young Liberal Movement (WA) from 1982 to 1983.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1982 to 1986.
• Member of the Joint Standing Committee on Liberal Party Federal Policy from 1983 to 1986.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Joint Policy Committee (WA) from 1983 to 1986.
• President of the Liberal Party Stirling Division (WA) from 1989 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 22.5.1959, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Commercial and industrial property consultant.
• Company director.