Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of New South Wales on 17.9.1997 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice B Childs (resigned). Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2001. Retired with the expiration of term 2008.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 9.8.1999 to 12.2.2002.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2005 to 28.11.2005
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served as Deputy Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Australian Crime Commission served as Chair from 14.2.2002 to 21.3.2002; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2008
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics: References served from 23.9.1997 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 23.9.1997 to 9.11.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 23.9.1997 to 9.11.1998; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 24.11.1998 to 25.11.1998; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Chair from 26.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Economics: Legislation served from 10.3.1999 to 11.2.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.10.1999 to 8.10.1999; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 13.2.2002 to 13.2.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Chair from 14.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 18.11.2004 to 1.7.2005; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 1.7.2005; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2005 to 7.11.2005; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.9.2006 to 30.6.2008; Economics served from 12.2.2008 to 17.3.2008
• Senate Select: New Tax System served as Substitute member from 30.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; Lucas Heights Reactor served from 17.8.2000 to 23.5.2001
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 23.9.1997 to 23.6.1998; Selection of Bills served from 16.11.2004 to 11.2.2008

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands, April-May 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago and USA, July 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, December 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 17.09.1997 to 30.06.2008
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism (Manufacturing Industry) from 25.11.2001 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research from 8.12.2003 to 22.10.2004.
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Parliamentary Caucus from 1998 to 2001.
• Opposition Whip in the Senate from 22.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1986 to 2004.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 1986.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party National Economic Policy Committee from 1988.
• Junior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party from 1994 to 2000.

Other positions

• Member of the Economic Planning and Advisory Council from 1991 to 1994.
• Member of the Telecommunications Industry Development Board from 1991 to 1996.
• Vice-Chair of the Australian Manufacturing Council from 1991 to 1996.
• Council Member of the National Investment Council from 1993 to 1996.

Personal

• Born: 18.2.1943, Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Secretary of the Federal Shipwrights' Union (Vic.) from 1970 to 1976.
• National President of the Federal Shipwrights' Union, 1974.
• Federal Secretary of the Federal Shipwrights' Union from 1974 to 1976.
• Assistant National Secretary of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union from 1976 to 1988.
• National Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union from 1988 to 1996.
• Member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive from 1989 to 1997.
• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1993 to 1997.