Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Wakefield, South Australia, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016. Elected to the House of Representatives for Spence, South Australia following electoral redistribution, 2019. Resigned 22.2.2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Industry, Science and Innovation served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Primary Industries and Resources served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Infrastructure and Communications served as Chair from 14.3.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Select: Gambling Reform served from 21.10.2010 to 26.10.2010; Gambling Reform served as Deputy Chair from 27.10.2010 to 14.3.2012; Parliamentary Budget Office served from 23.11.2010 to 23.3.2011; Christmas Island Tragedy served from 22.3.2011 to 29.6.2011
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 30.8.2016 to 15.9.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 23.7.2019 to 23.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Deputy Chair from 24.7.2019 to 1.12.2020
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Australian Crime Commission served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.11.2007 to 22.02.2022
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 24.6.2014 to 13.10.2015.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Manufacturing from 13.10.2015 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Science from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Caucus Secretary of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party from 2010 to 2011.

Party positions

• President of the Australian Labor Party (SA) from 2005 to 2006.

Personal

• Born: 27.2.1972, Elizabeth, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• GradDipComm (University of South Australia).
• BA (University of South Australia).
• Occupational health and safety officer for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.
• Sport and Recreation Policy Adviser to the Hon. M Wright, MHA (SA).
• Training Officer for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.
• Organiser for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.

Electorate

• Name: Spence
• Location: The Division of Spence consists of: City of Playford, Town of Gawler, part of the Barossa Council, part of the City of Salisbury, and part of the Light Regional Council.
• Area: 532 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 119,385 (at 7.6.2019)
• Industries: Commercial, defence, Edinburgh RAAF Base, retail and technology based industry, Lyell McEwin Hospital, market gardens and viticulture.