Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Scullin, Victoria at by-election 1986, vice the Hon. Dr H Jenkins (resigned). Re-elected 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Deputy Chairman of Committees from 8.5.1990 to 8.2.1993.
• Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees from 4.5.1993 to 21.2.1994.
• Deputy Speaker from 21.2.1994 to 29.1.1996.
• Second Deputy Speaker from 30.4.1996 to 17.10.2007.
• Speaker of the House of Representatives from 12.2.2008 to 19.7.2010.
• Speaker of the House of Representatives from 28.9.2010 to 24.11.2011.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Publications served as Chair from 8.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Finance and Public Administration served from 8.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 8.10.1987 to 19.11.1997; Aboriginal Affairs served from 26.10.1989 to 19.2.1990; Community Affairs served as Chair from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Industry, Science and Technology served from 16.10.1990 to 8.2.1993; Selection served as Chair from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Industry, Science and Technology served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Members' Interests served from 29.5.1996 to 1.12.2004; Family and Community Affairs served from 17.11.1997 to 31.8.1998; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served as Deputy Chair from 20.11.1997 to 31.8.1998; Environment and Heritage served from 8.12.1998 to 17.10.2007; Science and Innovation served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Members' Interests served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; House served as Chair from 12.2.2008 to 24.11.2011; Appropriations and Administration served as Chair from 28.9.2010 to 24.11.2011; Selection served as Chair from 29.9.2010 to 24.11.2011; Climate Change, Environment and the Arts served from 7.2.2012 to 5.8.2013; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 7.2.2012 to 14.3.2012
• Joint Select: Retailing Sector served as Deputy Chair from 9.2.1999 to 30.8.1999
• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 27.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Treaties served from 7.2.2012 to 5.8.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 7.2.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 12.2.2008 to 17.2.2008; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served as Chair from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 20.7.2010 to 24.10.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 24.11.2011; Human Rights served as Chair from 14.3.2012 to 5.8.2013; Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Intelligence and Security served from 17.6.2013 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and USA, May-June 1992.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to India, Nepal and Bangladesh, November-December 1993.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to AIPO, Singapore and bilateral visit to Thailand, September 1995.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 6th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Seoul, January 1998.
• Leader, Bilateral visit to Republic of Korea and Malaysia, July 1998.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the European Institutions, Strasbourg, Belgium and Luxembourg, June 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, March 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, December 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Philippines (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation General Assembly) and Indonesia (Bilateral visit), September 2006.
• CPA Study Group on the Environment, Belize, February-March 2007.
• Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Cambodia and 116th Assembly of the IPU, Nusa Dua, Indonesia, April-May 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to India to attend the 53rd CPA Conference and the Philippines, September-October 2007.
• Official Representative, Inauguration of the President of the Republic of Korea, February 2008.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 118th IPU Assembly, South Africa and bilateral visit to Jordon, April 2008.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Singapore and Indonesia, October-November 2008.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Vietnam and Laos, January 2009.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 120th IPU Assembly, Ethiopia, and bilateral visit to Switzerland, April 2009.
• Official visits to UK and Switzerland, July 2009.
• Official visits to USA, October-November 2009.
• Official visits to Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey, December 2009.
• Official visits to Singapore and Indonesia, January 2010.
• Official visits to Switzerland, July 2010.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 122nd IPU Assembly, Thailand and Hong Kong, and bilateral visit to China, March-April 2010.
• Official visits to UK, France, the Netherlands and Mongolia, January 2011.
• Official visits to Argentina, Brazil and Panama, April 2011.
• Official visits to Japan and Republic of Korea, May 2011.
• Official visits to Singapore and Indonesia, July 2011.
• Official visits to Switzerland, October 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and Sri Lanka, December 2011.
• Official visits to Argentina, Brazil and Panama, April 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 08.02.1986 to 05.08.2013

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.) from 1979 to 1981.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Bundoora Branch (Vic.), 1980.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Environment and Conservation Policy Committee (Vic.) from 1980 to 1982.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Local Government Policy Committee (Vic.) from 1982 to 1986.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.) from 1982 to 1983.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Municipal Executive (Vic.) from 1985 to 1987.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Bundoora Branch (Vic.), 1986.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.) from 1997.

Personal

• Born: 18.8.1952, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSc (Australian National University).
• Public servant.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Whittlesea Shire Council from 1979 to 1986.
• President, Whittlesea Shire Council from 1984 to 1985.

Electorate

• Name: Scullin
• Location: outer north Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Lalor, Mill Park, Thomastown and Watsonia North, and parts of Bundoora, Diamond Creek, Epping, Greensborough, Plenty, South Morang and Yarrambat.
• Area: 101 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 90,822 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: manufacturing, including automotive components, clothing and textiles, metal products, light industrial, food processing, packaging and distribution, health and education.
• Includes: Scullin includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Mill Park, and parts of Bundoora, Thomastown and Yan Yean.

Honours

• Awarded the Centenary Medal, 1.1.2001.
• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 9.6.2014.