Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 11.3.2009 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. C Ellison (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia, 2010 Re-elected 2016. Resigned 31.7.2017.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 7.7.2011 to 10.5.2012.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 7.7.2014 to 2.5.2016.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Gambling Reform served from 25.10.2010 to 10.5.2012
• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 11.2.2014 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 11.2.2014 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Migration served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 30.8.2016 to 22.6.2017; Treaties served from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Migration served from 12.9.2016 to 22.6.2017
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 12.3.2009 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served as Substitute member from 19.3.2009 to 20.8.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 14.5.2009 to 29.9.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 9.6.2009 to 10.6.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 2.2.2010 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.2.2010 to 8.2.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Chair from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.11.2012 to 1.11.2012; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 10.2.2014; Education and Employment: References served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 26.6.2014 to 1.7.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 1.7.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 2.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 11.11.2014 to 11.11.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.11.2014 to 20.11.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 20.2.2015 to 20.2.2015; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 16.11.2016 to 16.11.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 8.2.2017 to 11.5.2017
• Senate Select: Reform of the Australian Federation served from 11.5.2010 to 30.6.2011; School Funding served from 11.2.2014 to 9.7.2014; Wind Turbines served from 27.11.2014 to 3.8.2015; Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World served from 24.11.2016 to 7.4.2017; Lending to Primary Production Customers served from 20.3.2017 to 22.6.2017
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 12.3.2009 to 2.2.2010; Publications served from 13.11.2013 to 15.3.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.9.2016 to 22.6.2017; Publications served from 12.9.2016 to 22.6.2017

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 11.03.2009 to 31.07.2017
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 8.5.2012 to 18.9.2013.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 18.9.2013 to 30.6.2014.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Tangney Division Executive (WA) from 2006 to 2009.
• Member of the Liberal Party Mt Pleasant Branch Executive (WA) from 2006 to 2009.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Council (WA) from 2007 to 2009.

Personal

• Born: 11.2.1950, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BVSc (University of Queensland).
• Employed at Curtin University and the University of California from 1976 to 1984.
• Chief Executive Officer at Rottnest Island Authority from 1988 to 1995.
• Chief Executive Officer at the Bushfires Board of Western Australia from 1995 to 1997.
• Managing director for fuel industry retail and distribution from 1997 to 2000.
• Business executive in the oil and gas industry from 2000 to 2008.

Military Service

• RAAF Queensland University Squadron 1968-71.