Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Niddrie, 1988. Resigned 5.2.1996 to contest the House of Representatives division of Maribyrnong, Victoria.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Maribyrnong, Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Selection served from 23.11.1998 to 8.10.2001; Privileges served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Industry and Resources served from 19.2.2004 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served as Deputy Chair from 18.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 18.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; Corporations and Securities served as Deputy Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Australian Crime Commission served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to India and Pakistan; and to the 42nd CPA Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August-September 1996.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to AIPO General Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 1998.
• Study tour, Austria, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, April-May 1999.
• Attended 14th CPA Australian and Pacific Regional Seminar, Tonga, October 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to France and Germany, September-October 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, October-November 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia, January 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Tonga and Fiji, December 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Ukraine and Bulgaria, June-July 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Vanuatu, December 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, June 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, November 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Solomon Islands, April 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Japan, January 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, July 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Russia and UK, January-February 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and Indonesia, August 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.03.1996 to 17.10.2007
• Shadow Minister for the Pacific Islands from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 26.10.2004 to 7.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Overseas Aid and Pacific Island Affairs from 24.6.2005 to 7.12.2006.
• Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 20.10.1998 to 22.11.2001.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (Vic.) from 1989 to 1991.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1993 to 1995.

Personal

• Born: 3.4.1949, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Melbourne).
• Member of the Legislative Assembly (Vic.).
• Public servant from 1971 to 1975.
• Social planner for Williamstown Council from 1976 to 1979.
• Administrator for a Community Health Centre from 1980 to 1983.
• Consultant to the Hon. A Holding, MP from 1983 to 1988.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Niddrie, 1988. Resigned 5.2.1996 to contest the House of Representatives division of Maribyrnong, Victoria.
• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1992 to 1994.
• Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services from 1992 to 1993.
• Shadow Minister for Corrections from 1992 to 1994.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport, Recreation, Racing and Gaming from 1993 to 1994.
• Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party from March 1993 to May 1994.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition from March 1993 to May 1994.

Local Government service

• Councillor, City of Essendon from 1983 to 1984.

Electorate

• Name: Maribyrnong
• Location: north-western outskirts of Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Aberfeldie, Airport West, Albion, Avondale Heights, Brooklyn, Essendon, Essendon North, Essendon West, Kealba, Keilor East, Keilor Park, Maribyrnong, Moonee Ponds, Niddrie, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North and Tullamarine.
• Area: 71 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 87,267 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: light manufacturing, retail and service industries.
• Includes: Maribyrnong includes parts of the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorates of Derrimut, Essendon, Footscray, Kororoit and Niddrie.