Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Lyne, New South Wales, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 30.7.2008.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 31.1.1995 to 20.10.1997.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Transport and Regional Development from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Cabinet Minister from 9.10.1997 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 21.10.1998 to 20.7.1999.
• Minister for Trade from 20.7.1999 to 29.9.2006.
• Deputy Prime Minister from 6.7.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Transport and Regional Services from 29.9.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Selection served from 7.5.1996 to 22.10.1997; Communications, Transport and Microeconomic Reform served as Chair from 29.5.1996 to 8.10.1997; Privileges served from 18.6.1996 to 23.10.1997; Communications served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 30.7.2008
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 12.5.1993 to 25.11.1997; National Crime Authority served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to New Zealand, November 1997.
• Official visits to New Zealand, January 1999.
• Official visits to Singapore, Indonesia, UK, Belgium and Germany, February-March 1999.
• Official visits to Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay, August-September 1999.
• Official visits to New Zealand, September 1999.
• Official visits to Singapore and Japan, September-October 1999.
• Official visits to Switzerland, Romania, Germany, France, UK and Singapore, October-November 1999.
• Official visits to Thailand, November 1999.
• Official visits to USA, November-December 1999.
• Official visits to Thailand, February 2000.
• Official visits to Singapore, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, February-March 2000.
• Official visits to China, May 2000.
• Official visits to France, Germany, Belgium and Israel, June-July 2000.
• Official visits to Indonesia and New Zealand, August 2000.
• Official visits to Thailand and Canada, October 2000.
• Official visits to India, Egypt, South Africa and Singapore, October 2000.
• Official visits to Brunei and Singapore, November 2000.
• Official visits to Malaysia, December 2000.
• Official visits to Taiwan and Indonesia, February 2001.
• Official visits to USA, April 2001.
• Official visits to UK, Belgium and France, May 2001.
• Official visits to Japan and China, June 2001.
• Official visits to Mexico, Uruguay and Chile, August-September 2001.
• Official visits to Vietnam, September 2001.
• Official visits to Singapore, October 2001.
• Official visits to Qatar, November 2001.
• Official visits to USA, January-February 2002.
• Official visits to Fiji and New Caledonia, March 2002.
• Official visits to Indonesia, March 2002.
• Official visits to China, Japan and Republic of Korea, April 2002.
• Official visits to Switzerland, France, Belgium, UK and Thailand, May 2002.
• Official visits to Mexico, May-June 2002.
• Official visits to United Arab Emirates, Libya and Singapore, July 2002.
• Official visits to Malaysia, July 2002.
• Official visits to New Zealand, August 2002.
• Official visits to United Arab Emirates, Iran and Brunei, September 2002.
• Official visits to USA, October 2002.
• Official visits to Bolivia and Mexico, October 2002.
• Official visits to Singapore, November 2002.
• Official visits to Japan, Singapore and India, February 2003.
• Official visits to Vietnam and Indonesia, March 2003.
• Official visits to USA, April-May 2003.
• Official visits to Thailand, May-June 2003.
• Official visits to UK, Switzerland and Egypt, June 2003.
• Official visits to USA and Canada, July-August 2003.
• Official visits to Cambodia, September 2003.
• Official visits to Mexico and USA, September 2003.
• Official visits to Thailand, October 2003.
• Official visits to USA, November 2003.
• Official visits to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait, December 2003.
• Official visits to USA, January-February 2004.
• Official visits to Costa Rica, February 2004.
• Official visits to China, April 2004.
• Official visits to United Arab Emirates, France, Belgium and USA, May 2004.
• Official visits to Chile, USA and Brazil, June 2004.
• Official visits to Switzerland, July 2004.
• Official visits to Indonesia, September 2004.
• Official visits to Chile, November 2004.
• Official visits to New Zealand, December 2004.
• Official visits to Switzerland, January-February 2005.
• Official visits to Kenya, March 2005.
• Official visits to China, March 2005.
• Official visits to Colombia, Brazil and Argentina, March-April 2005.
• Official visits to Indonesia, Japan and Singapore, April 2005.
• Official visits to United Arab Emirates, France and Turkey, April-May 2005.
• Official visits to Republic of Korea, May-June 2005.
• Official visits to China, July 2005.
• Official visits to Malaysia, August 2005.
• Official visits to Thailand and Laos, September-October 2005.
• Official visits to Switzerland, October and December 2005.
• Official visits to Hong Kong, December 2005.
• Official visits to Switzerland, January 2006.
• Official visits to Iraq and United Arab Emirates, February 2006.
• Official visits to USA and UK, March 2006.
• Official visits to Switzerland, April-May 2006.
• Official visits to France, May 2006.
• Official visits to Vietnam, May-June 2006.
• Official visits to Switzerland, June-July 2006.
• Official visits to Malaysia, August 2006.
• Official visits to China, December 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 30.07.2008
• National Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1993 to 11.10.2003
• National Party Assistant Whip in the House of Representatives from 2.6.1994 to 29.4.1996.
• National Party Whip in the House of Representatives from 29.4.1996 to 21.10.1997.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary National Party from 1.7.1999 to 11.10.2003.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 11.10.2003 to 23.6.2005.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 23.6.2005 to 26.11.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the National Party from 1978.
• Chair of the National Party Wingham Branch (NSW) from 1982 to 1986.
• Secretary of the National Party Lyne Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1984 to 1990.

Other positions

• Chair of the Manning Valley Tourist Association.
• Chair of the Wingham Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1985.

Personal

• Born: 18.4.1956, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Jackeroo from 1973 to 1975.
• Farm machinery retailer from 1975 to 1978.
• Stock, station and real estate agent and auctioneer from 1978 to 1992.

Local Government service

• Alderman, Greater Taree City Council from 1985 to 1993.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1986 to 1987.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1991 to 1992.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1992 to 1993.

Electorate

• Name: Lyne
• Location: north central coast of New South Wales; it includes the centres of Bonny Hills, Crescent Head, Harrington, Kendall, Lake Cathie, Laurieton, North Haven, Old Bar, Port Macquarie, Taree, Wauchope and Wingham.
• Area: 9,039 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 86,814 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: timber, beef and dairy cattle, mixed farming, fishing and oyster farming, boat building, engineering and tourism.
• Includes: Lyne includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Myall Lakes, Oxley and Port Macquarie.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 11.6.2012.