Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Herbert, Queensland, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Retired prior to general elections 2010.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 19.2.2002 to 6.2.2007.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 30.1.2007 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Communications, Transport and Microeconomic Reform served from 17.10.1996 to 31.8.1998; Communications, Transport and the Arts served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Environment and Heritage served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Members' Interests served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 1.12.2004 to 14.2.2007; Communications served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Electoral Matters served as Chair from 7.2.2006 to 14.2.2007
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 30.5.1996 to 14.2.2007; Public Works served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Public Accounts and Audit served from 7.3.2000 to 8.10.2001; Public Works served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Vietnam and Indonesia from August to September 2002.
• Parliamentary delegation member to East Timor and Indonesia, September 2003.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Fiji and Samoa, November 2003.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the Solomon Islands, December 2003.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Laos, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, September 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Palau and Micronesia, November 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the USA, October 2009.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 19.07.2010
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence from 6.12.2007 to 8.12.2009.

Party positions

• Vice-President of the Liberal Party (Qld) from 1982 to 1983.

Personal

• Born: 4.5.1944, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Cert (Australian Broadcasting Control Board).
• Television Operators' Certificate of Proficiency.
• Television Station Production Manager from 1968 to 1972.
• General Manager in television, Townsville (Qld) from 1972 to 1996.

Local Government service

• Councillor and Opposition Leader, Townsville City Council to 1985 to 1996.

Electorate

• Name: Herbert
• Location: north Queensland coast; it includes the cities of Townsville and Thuringowa, and also includes Magnetic and Palm Islands.
• Area: 1,997 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 87,987 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: copper, nickel and zinc refineries, bulk sugar terminal, tropical fruits, prawn and fishing industry, beef cattle, tourism, port facilities, James Cook University, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and large defence establishments at Lavarack Barracks (Army) and Garbutt (RAAF).
• Includes: Herbert includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Mundingburra, Thuringowa and Townsville, and parts of Burdekin.

Honours

• Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, 13.6.2016.