Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2007. Defeated at general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 7.7.2011 to 30.6.2014.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 16.3.2009 to 30.6.2014
• Joint Statutory: Law Enforcement served from 1.7.2011 to 30.6.2014; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 4.12.2013 to 11.12.2013; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Deputy Chair from 12.12.2013 to 30.6.2014
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Community Affairs served from 28.8.2008 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 27.2.2009 to 27.2.2009; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 31.5.2012 to 31.5.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.10.2012 to 11.10.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2012 to 15.10.2012; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.2.2014 to 27.2.2014
• Senate Select: Climate Policy served from 18.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Reform of the Australian Federation served from 13.5.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2014; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September-October 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Timor-Leste, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to United Arab Emirates, May 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK, Spain, Germany and USA, April-May 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to 30.06.2014

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Campaign Committee.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Pine Rivers Municipal Electoral Council (Qld) from 1996 to 1998.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Bray Park Branch (Qld) from 1997 to 1998.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Qld) from 1997 to 2008.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Electorate Council (Qld), 1999.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Pine Rivers Municipal Electorate Council (Qld), 2000.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party Pine Rivers Central Branch (Qld) from 2005 to 2007.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee from 2005.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Electoral College from 2005.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Dickson Federal Electorate Council (Qld) from 2006 to 2008.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Pine Rivers Municipal Electoral Council (Qld), 2006.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2007.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Electorate Council (Qld), 2007.

Personal

• Born: 11.4.1958, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• AssocDipBus(IndRel) (Queensland University of Technology).
• Organiser for the Transport Workers' Union (Qld) from 1989 to 1992.
• Industrial Officer for the Police Union (Qld) from 1992 to 1996.
• Organiser, Senior Organiser, Branch Secretary and General Vice-President for the National Union of Workers (Qld) from 1996 to 2008.