Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for McEwen, Victoria, 1990. Defeated at general elections, 1993. Elected to the House of Representatives for McEwen, Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 1998 and 2001, 2004 and 2007. Retired prior to general elections 2010.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 26.11.2001 to 18.7.2004.
• Minister for Employment Services from 18.7.2004 to 26.10.2004.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence from 18.7.2004 to 26.10.2004.
• Minister for Small Business and Tourism from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Community Affairs served from 16.5.1990 to 14.9.1992; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 18.10.1990 to 30.4.1992; Financial Institutions and Public Administration served from 29.5.1996 to 12.12.1996; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 25.11.1996; Industry, Science and Technology served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served as Chair from 26.11.1996 to 31.8.1998; Primary Industries and Regional Services served as Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Industry, Science and Innovation served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to New Zealand, June 1997.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Ireland and China, July 2000.
• Attended official meetings in the UK and USA, September 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Hong Kong and the UK, January 2005.
• Attended official meetings in South Korea, Japan and China, July 2005.
• Attended official meetings in India, September 2005.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, Canada and Japan, January 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Vietnam from September to October 2006.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, January 2007.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the UK and Belgium, November 2009.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 24.03.1990 to 13.03.1993, 02.03.1996 to 19.07.2010
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition Assisting with Fightback! Co-ordination and Marketing from 28.4.1992 to 23.5.1992.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 23.5.1992 to 7.4.1993.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Liberal Party Yarra Glen Branch (Vic.) from 1984 to 1988.
• Committee Delegate for Evelyn State Electorate Conference (Vic.) from 1984 to 1988.
• Female Vice-Chairman of the Evelyn State Electorate Conference (Vic.) from 1985 to 1987.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (Vic.) from 1986 to 1989.
• Female Vice-President of the Liberal Party Yarra Glen Branch (Vic.), 1987.
• President of the Liberal Party Yarra Glen Branch (Vic.) from 1988 to 1989.
• Campaign Director of the Evelyn State Electorate Conference (Vic.), 1988.

Personal

• Born: 21.5.1946, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipT(Sec) (University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers' College).
• Secondary school teacher.
• Business manager of family company.
• Retailer from 1981 to 1985.
• Cashmere goat breeder and exporter from 1984 to 1990.
• Business consultant from 1994 to 1996.

Electorate

• Name: McEwen
• Location: central Victoria; it includes the centres of Alexandra, Broadford, Diamond Creek, Eildon, Gisborne, Healesville, Lancefield, Hurstbridge, Kilmore, Macedon, Marysville, Riddells Creek, Romsey, Seymour, Wallan, Warburton, Whittlesea, Woodend, Woori Yallock, Yarra Glen, Yarra Junction and Yea.
• Area: 10,675 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 95,402 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: cattle grazing, wool growing, forestry, market gardening, wines, sawmills, dairying, various small businesses and tourism.
• Includes: McEwen includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Seymour, and parts of Benalla, Gembrook, Macedon and Yan Yean.