Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2007. Resigned 5.3.2012.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Government Service Delivery from 25.2.2009 to 9.6.2009.
• Minister for Employment Participation from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Government Service Delivery from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Sport from 14.9.2010 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Assistant Treasurer from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister for Small Business from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2008 to 10.3.2009
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2008 to 10.3.2009
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 1.7.2008 to 10.3.2009; Environment, Communications and the Arts served as Substitute member from 24.2.2009 to 24.2.2009
• Senate Standing: Procedure served from 7.2.2012 to 5.3.2012; Selection of Bills served from 8.2.2012 to 5.3.2012

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to USA, April 2010.
• Official visits to India, September-October 2010.
• Official visits to Switzerland and UK, November-December 2010.
• Official visits to Switzerland and Italy, February-March 2011.
• Official visits to Singapore, July 2011.
• Official visits to New Zealand, September 2011.
• Official visits to Israel, January 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to 05.03.2012
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.

Party positions

• President of Young Labor (NSW) from 1995 to 1996.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 2004.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive Committee from 2007.

Personal

• Born: 9.11.1971, Chippendale, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MA (University of New South Wales).
• Metal trades assistant from 1990 to 1991.
• Beach inspector, 1992.
• Official for the Transport Workers' Union from 1993 to 1995.
• State Organiser for the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 1996 to 1999.
• Assistant General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 1999 to 2004.
• General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 2004 to 2007.
• Business Development at Bell Potter Securities, 2008.