Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 28.4.2016 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Bullock (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2016. Re-elected 2019. Resigned 26.1.2024.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served from 26.3.2018 to 26.3.2018; Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served as Joint Chair from 27.3.2018 to 29.11.2018; Northern Australia served from 6.9.2022 to 13.6.2023
• Joint Standing: Northern Australia served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Northern Australia served from 18.9.2019 to 11.4.2022; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 28.7.2022 to 7.9.2022; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served as Chair from 7.9.2022 to 26.1.2024
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 4.7.2019 to 1.12.2021
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 30.8.2016 to 14.12.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.2017 to 20.3.2017; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.10.2018 to 26.10.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.11.2019 to 19.8.2020; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 31.8.2021 to 14.10.2021
• Senate Select: Strengthening Multiculturalism served from 23.3.2017 to 17.8.2017; Effectiveness of the Australian Government's Northern Australia Agenda served from 22.7.2019 to 28.4.2021; Aboriginal Flag served from 3.9.2020 to 13.10.2020

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 28.04.2016 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 4.5.2016 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Reconciliation from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Personal

• Born: 29.1.1948, Broome, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Yes

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Hon LLD (University of Melbourne).
• Hon DLitt (University of New South Wales).
• Director of the Central Land Council.
• Director of the Kimberley Land Council.
• Member of the Yawuru Native Title Corporation.
• Ordained Catholic Priest, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, 1975.
• Royal Commissioner into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, 1989.
• Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation from 1991 to 1997.
• Chairman of Nyambu Buru Yawuru Ltd. from 2010 to 2016.
• Co-Chair of the Expert Panel for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians from 2010 to 2016.
• Member of the Australian National University Council, 2014.

Honours

• Awarded the Sydney Peace Prize, 2008.

Publications

• Kakadu Region social impact study: community action plan [Report of the Study Advisory Group], Supervising Scientist, Canberra: 1997.
• The Democracy Game, Fraser Lecture 2002, May 2002 2002.
• A National Conversation About Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Constitutional Recognition [Report of the Expert Panel], You Me Unity, Australia: 2011.
• Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution [Report of the Expert Panel], You Me Unity, Australia: 2012.
• Managing a path towards meaningful change and recognition, in M Davis and M Langton (Eds.), 'It's our Country: Indigenous Arguments for Meaningful Constitutional Recognition and Reform', Melbourne University Press, Australia: 2016.