Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for the Northern Territory, 1987. Re-elected 1990, 1993. Defeated at general elections 1996. Elected to the House of Representatives for the Northern Territory, 1998. Elected to the House of Representatives for Lingiari, Northern Territory, 2001, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. Retired prior to general elections 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications from 4.4.1990 to 27.5.1992.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training from 27.5.1992 to 11.3.1996.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories from 14.4.1993 to 23.12.1993.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Territories from 23.12.1993 to 25.3.1994.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories from 25.3.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
• Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Indigenous Health from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC from 3.3.2011 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal Affairs served from 8.10.1987 to 5.4.1989; Selection served from 16.2.1988 to 19.2.1990; Aboriginal Affairs served as Chair from 6.4.1989 to 19.2.1990; Aboriginal Affairs served from 20.2.1990 to 4.5.1992; Privileges served from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 4.5.1992 to 8.2.1993; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 17.10.2007; Privileges served from 10.5.2007 to 20.5.2007; Privileges served as Deputy Chair from 21.5.2007 to 17.10.2007; Indigenous Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Indigenous Affairs served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Indigenous Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Select: Northern Australia served from 9.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served from 26.3.2018 to 29.11.2018
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 21.11.1989 to 19.2.1990; National Capital and External Territories served from 8.12.1998 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 8.12.1998 to 17.10.2007; National Capital and External Territories served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; National Capital and External Territories served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Northern Australia served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served as Deputy Chair from 8.12.1998 to 19.3.2002; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 11.07.1987 to 02.03.1996, 03.10.1998 to 11.04.2022
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) from 25.11.2001 to 23.8.2002.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism (Northern Australia and the Territories) from 23.8.2002 to 2.7.2003.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia) from 2.7.2003 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and Reconciliation) from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Affairs from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia from 18.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for External Territories from 23.7.2016 to 14.9.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health from 14.9.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for External Territories from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Personal

• Born: 20.3.1950, Canberra, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (Murdoch University).
• BA (Australian National University).
• Founding President of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council.
• Assistant Secretary of the Trades and Labour Council (NT).
• Teacher in the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Teaching Services from 1976 to 1978.
• Researcher at the Australian National University from 1978 to 1981.
• Teacher in the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Teaching Services from 1981 to 1983.
• Senior Project Officer at the Central Land Council, Alice Springs (NT) from 1983 to 1987.
• Consultant from 1996 to 1998.

Electorate

• Name: Lingiari
• Location: Lingiari covers the majority of the Northern Territory, with the exception of the Darwin Municipality and most of the Palmerston Municipality. Lingiari includes the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the Territory of Christmas Island.
• Area: 1,348,158 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 70,023 (at 6.6.2019)
• Industries: Cattle, tourism, horticulture, fishing, light industry in Alice Springs, bauxite, copper, gold and uranium mining.

Publications

• A Certain Heritage: programs for and by Aboriginal families in Australia (with Dr HC Coombs and Dr Brandl), Centre for Research and Environmental Studies, ANU, Canberra: 1983.