Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 1980. Re-elected 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993 and 1998. Retired with the expiration of term 2005.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 16.9.2002 to 30.6.2005.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Consumer Affairs from 15.2.1988 to 4.4.1990.
• Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices from 15.2.1988 to 4.4.1990.
• Minister for Administrative Services from 4.4.1990 to 24.3.1993.
• Cabinet Minister from 4.4.1990 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from 24.3.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 24.3.1993 to 11.3.1996.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Republic Referendum served from 21.6.1999 to 9.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs and Defence served from 28.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 9.10.1987 to 24.2.1988; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 31.5.1996 to 29.5.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served from 28.2.1985 to 15.2.1988; National Crime Authority served from 31.5.1996 to 6.11.1996; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served as Deputy Chair from 28.8.1997 to 13.5.1998
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group A served from 26.8.1981 to 4.2.1983; Estimates Group E served from 24.9.1987 to 18.3.1988
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Constitutional and Legal Affairs served from 25.8.1981 to 9.9.1981; Foreign Affairs and Defence served from 9.9.1981 to 1.7.1985; Constitutional and Legal Affairs served from 21.4.1983 to 18.3.1987; Constitutional and Legal Affairs served as Chair from 19.3.1987 to 5.6.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 24.9.1987 to 5.10.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Chair from 6.10.1987 to 24.2.1988; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.4.1999 to 12.8.1999; Economics: References served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005
• Senate Select: Industrial Relations Legislation served from 22.9.1982 to 26.10.1982; Conduct of a Judge served from 30.3.1984 to 24.8.1984; Allegations Concerning a Judge served from 10.9.1984 to 21.2.1985
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 25.8.1981 to 15.6.1984; Scrutiny of Bills served from 8.12.1982 to 20.2.1985; Disputed Returns and Qualifications served from 4.5.1983 to 5.6.1987; Privileges served from 29.5.1985 to 5.6.1987; Senators' Interests served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Senators' Interests served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2002; Appropriations and Staffing served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Scandinavia, May-June 1982.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Western Europe, Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, October-November 1983.
• Representative of the Australian Government at the installation of the President of Nicaragua, January 1985.
• Alternate Delegate, Commonwealth Parliamentary Delegation to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Brisbane, July 1985.
• Parliamentary Adviser, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, September-December 1986.
• Delegate, 27th South Pacific Conference, Noumea, October 1987.
• Official visits to Fiji and Tuvalu, September-October 1988.
• Official visits to New Zealand, November 1988.
• Official visits to New Zealand, June-July 1990.
• Official visits to Japan, USSR, France and USA, September-October 1990.
• Official visits to Greece and Crete, May 1991.
• Official visits to Indonesia, China and Thailand, September-October 1991.
• Official visits to Cambodia, UK, Sweden, Czech Republic and Germany, July-August 1992.
• Official visits to Thailand, Hong Kong and USA, June 1993.
• Official visits to Switzerland, Germany, Greece and Turkey, September 1993.
• Official visits to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore, April 1994.
• Official visits to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, September 1994.
• Official visits to Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Republic of Korea, March-April 1995.
• Official visits to Lebanon, Italy, Malta and Greece, July-August 1995.
• Parliamentary Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
• Bilateral visits to Canada and USA, October-November 1999.
• Attended 6th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, The Hague, The Netherlands, November 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Japan and the Republic of Korea, December 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to China and bilateral visit to Mongolia, April 2005.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, May 2005.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1981 to 30.06.2005
• Shadow Attorney-General from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Justice from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1950, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Adelaide).
• Lawyer and research officer.