Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2007. Re-elected 2013 and 2016. Retired with the expiration of term 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 9.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Migration served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; Parliamentary Library served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; National Broadband Network served from 15.9.2016 to 11.10.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served as Substitute member from 10.3.2009 to 23.11.2009; Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Intelligence and Security served from 25.11.2014 to 22.6.2015; Public Works served from 4.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Public Works served from 12.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Corporations and Financial Services served from 12.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 1.7.2008 to 15.10.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 24.9.2008 to 12.3.2009; Community Affairs: References served from 14.5.2009 to 2.2.2010; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 2.2.2010 to 14.9.2010; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 11.3.2010 to 11.11.2013; Economics: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 9.2.2011; Economics: References served from 30.9.2010 to 9.2.2011; Economics: References served from 1.7.2011 to 1.7.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 9.2.2012 to 9.2.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 13.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Economics: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 1.7.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 7.7.2015 to 7.7.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 15.2.2017 to 27.3.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.3.2017 to 29.3.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 27.3.2017 to 29.3.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 27.3.2017 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Select: Men's Health served from 13.11.2008 to 29.5.2009; Scrutiny of New Taxes served from 30.9.2010 to 1.11.2011; Electricity Prices served from 10.9.2012 to 1.11.2012; School Funding served from 12.12.2013 to 9.7.2014; Health served from 26.6.2014 to 5.5.2016; Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill served from 1.12.2016 to 15.2.2017; Lending to Primary Production Customers served from 20.3.2017 to 6.12.2017
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 22.9.2008 to 13.9.2013; Appropriations and Staffing served from 12.3.2009 to 11.11.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 13.11.2013 to 1.12.2013; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 01.07.2008 to 30.06.2019
• The Nationals Party Whip in the Senate from 22.9.2008 to 13.9.2013.
• The Nationals Party Whip in the Senate from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019.

Party positions

• Secretary of the National Party Inverell Branch (NSW) from 1991 to 1994.
• Treasurer of the National Party Inverell Branch (NSW) from 1994 to 1998.
• Chair of the National Party Inverell Branch (NSW) from 1998 to 2004.
• Chair of the National Party Northern Tablelands State Electorate Council (NSW) from 1999 to 2003.
• Secretary of the National Party Northern Tablelands State Electorate Council (NSW) from 2004 to 2013.
• Secretary of the Nationals New England Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 2004.
• Secretary of the National Party Inverell Branch (NSW), 2004.

Personal

• Born: 16.1.1955, Jamestown, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Truck driver from 1973 to 1979.
• Shearer from 1974 to 1999.
• Farmer from 1979 to 2000.
• Small business owner and manager from 1999 to 2008.

Honours

• Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2024.