Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Bradfield, New South Wales, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 19.10.2009.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 30.1.2001 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister for Education, Science and Training from 26.11.2001 to 27.1.2006.
• Cabinet Minister from 26.11.2001 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Defence from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Family and Community Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.2000; Financial Institutions and Public Administration served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Employment, Education and Training served from 22.10.1997 to 22.10.1997; Employment, Education and Training served as Chair from 23.10.1997 to 31.8.1998; Employment, Education and Workplace Relations served as Chair from 8.12.1998 to 7.2.2001

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended study tour in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Switzerland and France from July to August 1999.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Singapore, September 2000.
• Attended study tour in New Zealand, July 2002.
• Attended official meetings in China, India and the UK, October 2003.
• Attended study tour in Chile, Brazil and the USA, April 2005.
• Attended official meetings in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, July 2005.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, March 2006.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, May 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore and Malaysia, June 2006.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and UK from June to July 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Iraq and Afghanistan from August to September 2006.
• Attended official meetings in East Timor, November 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Bahrain, the USA, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, December 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Canada, April 2007.
• Attended official meetings in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, April 2007.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore and Japan, June 2007.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia and China, July 2007.
• Attended official meeting in the United Arab Emirates and USA from August to September 2007.
• Attended official meetings in the UK and USA, August 2008.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 19.10.2009
• Leader of the Opposition from 3.12.2007 to 16.9.2008.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 16.9.2008.
• Chair of the Government Members' Health and Aged Care Committee from 1996 to 1998.
• Secretary of the Government Members' Employment, Education and Workplace Relations Committee from 1998.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party from 29.11.2007 to 16.9.2008.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party from 1994.
• Member of the Liberal Party Pymble Branch (NSW) from 1994.

Other positions

• Chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum from 1998 to 2001.

Personal

• Born: 19.8.1958, Coburg, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MBBS (Flinders University).
• FAMA (American Medical Association).
• FRACP (Hon) (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).
• MRACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners).
• General medical practitioner from 1985 to 1995.
• Director of the After Hours Medical Services, Hobart/Launceston (Tas.) from 1987 to 1991.
• President of the Australian Medical Association (Tas.) from 1990 to 1992.
• Vice-President of the Australian Medical Association from 1991 to 1993.
• President of the Australian Medical Association from 1993 to 1995.
• Medical columnist from 1995 to 1997.

Electorate

• Name: Bradfield
• Location: Sydney's North Shore; it includes the suburbs of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, Pymble, St. Ives, Turramurra, Warrawee, West Pymble and parts of Asquith, Chatswood, Chatswood West, Hornsby, Middle Cove, Roseville and Wahroonga.
• Area: 93 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 93,405 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: light manufacturing, service industries, Chatswood CBD and shopping centre, commercial businesses and government offices.
• Includes: Bradfield includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Davidson, Hornsby, Kuring-gai, Lane Cove and Willoughby.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2016.

Publications

• Of life and leadership, Cpnnor Court Publishing, Redland Bay, Qld: 2022.