Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 30.8.2007 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. P Calvert (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2007. Re-elected 2013 and 2016. Resigned 21.1.2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 24.6.2013; Constitutional Recognition of Local Government served as Deputy Chair from 28.11.2012 to 7.3.2013
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 14.2.2008 to 1.7.2008; Trade and Investment Growth served from 12.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Treaties served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.7.2008 to 2.2.2010; Corporations and Financial Services served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; Intelligence and Security served from 16.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Intelligence and Security served from 13.9.2016 to 21.1.2019; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 13.6.2017 to 21.1.2019; Law Enforcement served from 17.8.2017 to 2.10.2017; Law Enforcement served from 17.10.2017 to 5.2.2018; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 5.2.2018 to 5.2.2018; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Chair from 6.2.2018 to 21.1.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration served from 10.9.2007 to 11.2.2008; Economics served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Economics: Legislation served from 2.2.2010 to 13.11.2013; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.2.2010 to 15.3.2010; Economics: References served as Chair from 30.9.2010 to 8.2.2011; Economics: References served from 9.2.2011 to 6.7.2011; Economics: References served as Chair from 7.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Economics: References served from 12.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Economics: Legislation served as Chair from 13.11.2013 to 2.7.2014; Economics: Legislation served from 2.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.2.2016 to 9.2.2016; Economics: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 21.1.2019; Environment and Communications: References served as Deputy Chair from 12.9.2016 to 28.11.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 13.9.2016 to 5.12.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.10.2018 to 21.10.2018
• Senate Select: State Government Financial Management served from 14.2.2008 to 18.9.2008; Fuel and Energy served from 26.6.2008 to 30.8.2010; Scrutiny of New Taxes served from 30.9.2010 to 1.11.2011; Cyber-Safety served from 28.6.2013 to 30.8.2013; Abbott Government's Commission of Audit served from 12.12.2013 to 19.6.2014; Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates served from 1.12.2016 to 28.11.2017; Electric Vehicles served from 27.6.2018 to 21.1.2019
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 4.2.2009 to 9.3.2010; Selection of Bills served from 9.5.2012 to 30.6.2014; House served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Senators' Interests served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Selection of Bills served as Chair from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Selection of Bills served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 21.1.2019; Senators' Interests served from 1.9.2016 to 12.2.2018; Procedure served from 1.9.2016 to 21.1.2019; House served from 12.9.2016 to 21.1.2019; Publications served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017; Privileges served from 5.2.2018 to 12.2.2018; Privileges served from 6.10.2018 to 21.10.2018

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 30.08.2007 to 21.01.2019
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 4.2.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 18.9.2013 to 30.6.2014.
• Government Chief Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2014 to 21.1.2019.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Tas.) from 1996 to 2000.
• Honorary Treasurer of the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 1997 to 1998.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1997 to 2001.
• Campaign Director for the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 1998 to 2000.
• Honorary General Secretary of the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 1998 to 2000.
• Honorary Treasurer of the Liberal Party State Branch (Tas.) from 2001 to 2002.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Tas.) from 2001 to 2002.
• President of the Liberal Party Howrah Branch (Tas.) from 2002 to 2003.
• President of the Liberal Party Howrah Branch (Tas.) from 2005.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Tas.) from 2005 to 2007.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Franklin Electorate Committee (Tas.) from 2005 to 2007.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 2005 to 2007.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1965, Launceston, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• GradDipBus (Australian Maritime College).
• BEc (University of Tasmania).
• LLB (University of Tasmania).
• Commercial and maritime lawyer from 1992 to 1995.
• Policy analyst from 1995 to 1997.
• Commercial and maritime lawyer from 1997 to 1998.
• Political adviser from 1998 to 2001.
• Lawyer and company director from 2001 to 2007.