Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Blaxland, New South Wales at by-election 1996, vice the Hon. P Keating (resigned). Re-elected 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 17.11.2004 to 17.10.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 26.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; Industry, Science and Resources served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Industry and Resources served from 20.3.2002 to 1.12.2004; Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Parliamentary Library served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Industry and Resources served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 8.2.2005 to 17.10.2007; Parliamentary Library served from 27.3.2006 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 26.6.1996 to 31.8.1998

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum Executive Council Meeting, Seoul, September 1997.
• Bilateral visit to Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, June 1998.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Brazil and Argentina, October 2000.
• Bilateral visits to Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia, April 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, Germany, Singapore and USA, April-May 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 15.06.1996 to 17.10.2007

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1967.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Condell Park Branch (NSW) from 1983.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Blaxland Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1990 to 1996.

Personal

• Born: 25.8.1951, Bankstown, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (University of New England).
• BA (University of New South Wales).
• School teacher from 1975 to 1984.
• Electorate officer to the Hon. P Keating from 1985 to 1996.

Electorate

• Name: Blaxland
• Location: south-western Sydney; it includes the suburbs of Bankstown, Bass Hill, Birrong, Chester Hill, Chullora, Condell Park, Georges Hall, Greenacre, Landsdowne, Mt Lewis, Punchbowl, Sefton, Strathfield South, Villawood, Wiley Park and Yagoona.
• Area: 54 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 82,445 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: railway workshops, aircraft repairs, transport and storage industries.
• Includes: Blaxland includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Auburn, Bankstown, East Hills, Fairfield, Granville, Lakemba and Strathfield.