Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2007. Re-elected 2013, 2016 and 2019.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 1.8.2019 to 1.8.2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 25.7.2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Gambling Reform served from 30.9.2010 to 27.2.2012; Cyber-Safety served from 1.7.2011 to 6.7.2011; Cyber-Safety served as Chair from 7.7.2011 to 24.6.2013; National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation served from 28.9.2022 to 10.11.2022
• Joint Standing: Migration served from 1.7.2008 to 5.7.2011; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2008 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 2.7.2019 to present; Treaties served from 22.7.2019 to 5.12.2019; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 28.9.2022 to 24.10.2022; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served as Chair from 24.10.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 1.7.2014 to 17.7.2014; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Deputy Chair from 17.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Deputy Chair from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Law Enforcement served from 12.9.2016 to 23.11.2016; Public Accounts and Audit served from 28.7.2022 to present; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to 3.4.2023; National Anti-Corruption Commission served from 9.2.2023 to 29.3.2023; National Anti-Corruption Commission served from 30.3.2023 to 27.3.2024
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Environment, Communications and the Arts served as Substitute member from 23.2.2009 to 23.2.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 16.3.2009 to 13.5.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 9.9.2009 to 5.7.2011; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.5.2010 to 27.5.2010; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 5.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 5.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.10.2012 to 19.10.2012; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 22.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 22.11.2016 to 23.11.2016; Community Affairs: References served from 5.2.2020 to 25.7.2022; Environment and Communications: References served from 8.10.2020 to 21.10.2021; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 8.10.2020 to 21.10.2021; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 9.12.2020 to 10.6.2021; Environment and Communications: References served from 28.7.2022 to present; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to 30.3.2023; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 16.10.2023 to present; Education and Employment: References served as Deputy Chair from 11.10.2024 to 3.11.2024; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 11.10.2024 to 3.11.2024
• Senate Select: Cyber-Safety served as Chair from 28.6.2013 to 30.8.2013; National Broadband Network served from 1.7.2014 to 4.5.2016; Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates served from 30.11.2016 to 4.12.2016; Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates served as Chair from 5.12.2016 to 28.11.2017; Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century served from 25.6.2018 to 28.6.2018; Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century served as Chair from 28.6.2018 to 14.2.2019; Autism served from 8.10.2020 to 13.5.2021
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2008 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 1.7.2008 to 13.11.2013; Privileges served from 30.9.2010 to 1.7.2011; Selection of Bills served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 8.7.2014 to 16.7.2014; Publications served as Deputy Chair from 17.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 1.9.2016 to 22.11.2016; Selection of Bills served from 1.9.2016 to 8.2.2017; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Procedure served from 14.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; House served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to present
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 18.10.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 30.8.2016 to 3.2.2017.

Party positions

• Secretary of Australian Labor Party local branch from 1994 to 2007.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1994 to 1998.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1996 to 2012.
• Secretary and Tasmanian Convener of the National Labor Women's Network from 1996 to 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Social and Community Policy Committee from 1998 to 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Security and Trade Policy Committee from 2000 to 2002.
• Vice-President of the Federal Australian Labor Party from 2002 to 2004.
• President of Australian Labor Party local branch from 2007.

Personal

• Born: 7.2.1959, Hobart, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Mental health researcher/clerical from 1976 to 1978.
• Medical administration and receptionist from 1978 to 1980.
• Accounts clerk from 1981 to 1983.
• Early childhood educator from 1983 to 1992.
• Industrial officer and trainer for the Australian Services Union from 1992 to 2002.
• Adviser to the Hon. Dr D Crean, MLC (Tas.) from 2002 to 2004.
• Adviser to the Hon. K Bacon, MHA (Tas.) from 2004 to 2005.
• Electorate officer and adviser to the Hon. D Llewellyn, MHA (Tas.) from 2005 to 2007.