Biography
- Parliamentary service
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- Elected to the House of Representatives for Barton, New South Wales, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.
- Parliamentary positions
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- Member of the Speaker's Panel from 27.5.2013 to 5.8.2013.
- Ministerial appointments
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- Attorney-General from 3.12.2007 to 14.12.2011.
- Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 5.3.2012.
- Vice-President of the Executive Council from 14.9.2010 to 5.3.2012.
- Minister for Housing from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
- Minister for Homelessness from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
- Minister for Emergency Management from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
- Committee service
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- House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 30.5.1996 to 3.7.1997; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.1997 to 31.8.1998; Privileges served from 2.3.1998 to 8.10.2001; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 11.8.2003 to 3.8.2004; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 30.10.2012 to 5.8.2013
- Joint Select: Republic Referendum served as Deputy Chair from 9.6.1999 to 9.8.1999; Gambling Reform served from 13.2.2013 to 24.6.2013
- Joint Standing: Treaties served as Deputy Chair from 18.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; Electoral Matters served from 15.5.1997 to 17.11.1997; Electoral Matters served from 4.12.2000 to 26.6.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 14.3.2012 to 1.11.2012; Treaties served from 20.9.2012 to 14.3.2013
- Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 15.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Law Enforcement served as Chair from 15.5.2013 to 5.8.2013
- Conferences, delegations and visits
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- Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to AIPO meeting, Phuket, Thailand, September 1996.
- Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, May 2004.
- Official visit to the Solomon Islands, December 2004.
- Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK, Poland and Italy, June-July 2006.
- Official visits to UK and USA, March-April 2008.
- Official visits to New Zealand, June 2008.
- Official visits to UK, July 2008.
- Official visits to New Zealand, July 2008.
- Official visits to New Zealand, January 2009.
- Official visits to UK, November 2009.
- Official visits to USA, April-May 2010.
- Official visits to Switzerland, January 2011.
- Official visits to New Zealand, March, April, July and November 2011.
- Official visits to Belgium and France, November 2011.
- Official visits to New Zealand, February 2012.
- Parliamentary party positions
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- Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.03.1996 to 05.08.2013
- Shadow Attorney-General from 20.10.1998 to 8.12.2003.
- Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.10.1998 to 3.12.2007.
- Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations from 25.11.2001 to 2.7.2003.
- Shadow Minister for Justice and Community Security from 2.7.2003 to 8.12.2003.
- Shadow Minister for Homeland Security from 8.12.2003 to 24.6.2005.
- Shadow Minister for Defence from 26.10.2004 to 10.12.2006.
- Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
- Party positions
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- Secretary of the Australian Labor Party local branch.
- President of the Australian Labor Party Barton Federal Electorate Council (NSW).
- Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW).
- Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1972.
- Personal
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- Born: 26.1.1958, Sydney, Australia
- Gender: Male
- Marital Status: Married
- Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
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- LLM (University of Sydney).
- BA (University of New South Wales).
- LLB (University of New South Wales).
- Associate to the Hon. Justice P Evatt, DSC, Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1981 to 1982.
- Solicitor from 1982 to 1996.
- Partner in legal firm from 1988 to 1996.
- Electorate
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- Name: Barton
- Location: south eastern Sydney; it includes the suburbs of Arncliffe, Banksia, Bardwell Valley, Beverley Park, Bexley, Bexley North, Brighton-Le-Sands, Carss Park, Dolls Point, Kogarah, Kogarah Bay, Kyeemagh, Monterey, Ramsgate, Ramsgate Beach, Rockdale, Sandringham, Sans Souci, Turrella, Wolli Creek and parts of Beverly Hills, Carlton, Earlwood and Kingsgrove.
- Area: 44 Sq km
- Electors enrolled: 95,243 (at 21.8.2010)
- Industries: Light manufacturing, commercial and retail industry, tourism and health services.
- Includes: Barton includes the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Rockdale, and parts of Canterbury, Kogarah and Lakemba.
- Honours
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- Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 13.6.2022.