Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Mallee, Victoria, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 20.10.1997 to 31.8.1998.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Publications served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Industry, Science and Technology served from 29.5.1996 to 2.3.1998; Family and Community Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 2.9.1997; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 11.9.1996; Family and Community Affairs served as Chair from 3.9.1997 to 31.8.1998; Procedure served from 30.10.1997 to 8.10.2001; Selection served from 10.11.1998 to 10.8.2006; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 7.8.2001 to 8.10.2001; Primary Industries and Regional Services served from 7.8.2001 to 8.10.2001; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Primary Industries and Resources served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Select: Intelligence Services served from 28.6.2001 to 27.8.2001
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 8.12.1998 to 27.11.2000; Electoral Matters served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Electoral Matters served from 14.2.2007 to 17.10.2007; Treaties served from 11.3.2008 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 29.5.1996 to 8.10.2001; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 8.3.1999 to 8.10.2001; Public Works served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Public Works served from 11.3.2008 to 6.7.2011; Public Works served as Deputy Chair from 7.7.2011 to 5.8.2013; Intelligence and Security served from 7.7.2011 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to European Parliamentary Institutions, France and Belgium, and bilateral visits to UK (Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland, September-October 1996.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 7th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Lima, Peru, January 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, April-May 2000.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Hungary and Poland, October 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and China, November-December 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and Japan, April 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Argentina and Colombia, August 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland, Austria and USA, June-July 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Rwanda and Tanzania, September-October 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Japan, January 2012.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, May-June 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 05.08.2013
• National Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1993 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Trade from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• National Party Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 10.11.1998 to 11.10.2003.
• Nationals Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 11.10.2003 to 10.8.2006.

Personal

• Born: 24.8.1949, Mildura, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BE (University of Melbourne).
• DipCivE ().
• MSc (University of Aberdeen).
• Design engineer for the Electricity Commission (Vic.) from 1970 to 1980.
• Lecturer at Ballarat College of Advanced Education from 1980 to 1982.
• Consulting engineer from 1982 to 1993.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Swan Hill City Council.

Electorate

• Name: Mallee
• Location: north-western Victoria; it includes the centres of Birchip, Charlton, Dimboola, Donald, Edenhope, Horsham, Hopetoun, Jeparit, Kaniva, Kerang, Merbein, Mildura, Nhill, Nyah, Ouyen, Rainbow, Red Cliffs, Robinvale, St Arnaud, Sea Lake, Swan Hill, Warracknabeal and Wycheproof.
• Area: 70,694 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 89,840 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: dried fruit, citrus, stone fruit, wheat and cereals, wool, sheep, vegetables, vineyards, olive oil, dairying, beef cattle, pig raising, meat works, gold mining and flour milling.
• Includes: Mallee includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Mildura, and parts of Lowan, Rodney and Swan Hill.