Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1990. Re-elected 1996. Resigned 15.10.1997 to contest the House of Representatives division of Dickson, Queensland. Elected to the House of Representatives for Dickson, Queensland, 1998. Defeated at general elections 2001.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 13.11.1990 to 8.2.1993
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 25.3.1994 to 5.5.1994; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 18.6.1996 to 15.10.1997
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 1.7.1990 to 13.11.1990; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 1.7.1990 to 10.10.1991; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.11.1995 to 6.11.1995; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.11.1995 to 13.11.1995; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.11.1995 to 15.11.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.6.1996 to 25.6.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.9.1996 to 20.9.1996
• Senate Select: Community Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising Electronic Technologies served from 21.6.1991 to 8.2.1993; Political Broadcasts and Political Disclosures Bill served from 16.8.1991 to 28.11.1991; Superannuation served from 17.10.1991 to 28.10.1993; Sales Tax Legislation served from 25.6.1992 to 19.8.1992; Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Certain Land Fund Matters served from 19.9.1995 to 30.11.1995
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 12.5.1994 to 22.9.1994

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to the European Institutions, France, Belgium and Luxembourg from September to October 1993.
• Delegate to the 93rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Spain, March 1995.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 03.10.1998 to 10.11.2001
• Australian Democrats. Served: 01.07.1990 to 15.10.1997
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Services from 20.10.1998 to 3.10.1999.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Training from 3.10.1999 to 25.11.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Transport and Communications; Aboriginal Affairs; Consumer Affairs; Territories (Northern Australia) from 1.7.1990 to 8.10.1991.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation; Electoral Matters; Territories; Treasury and Finance from 8.10.1991 to 30.6.1993.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 29.4.1993 to 15.10.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Treasury and Finance; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; Women; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Small Business from 1.7.1993 to 30.6.1996.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and Reconciliation; Commonwealth/State Relations; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Treasury and Finance; Women from 1.7.1996 to 25.5.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Treasury and Finance; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; Employment; Women; Republic; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Commonwealth/State Relations from 25.2.1997 to 15.10.1997.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Australian Democrats (Qld), 1984.
• President of the Australian Democrats (Qld) from 1984 to 1989.
• Deputy President of the Federal Australian Democrats from 1988 to 1990.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1997.

Other positions

• Member of the Aboriginal Reconciliation Council from 1991 to 1997.

Personal

• Born: 5.12.1948, Maitland, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (Newcastle College of Advanced Education).
• BA (University of Newcastle).
• Secondary school teacher.
• Freelance radio producer.
• Electorate officer.

Electorate

• Name: Dickson
• Location: North-western outskirts of Brisbane; it includes the suburbs of Albany Creek, Arana Hills, Bray Park, Brendale, Cashmere, Dayboro, Eatons Hill, Everton Hills, Ferny Hills, Joyner, Kallangur, Lawnton, Petrie, Samford Valley and Strathpine, and parts of Ferny Grove.
• Area: 754 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 79,756 (at 3.10.1998)
• Industries: Retail and light industry.
• Includes: Dickson includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Ferny Grove and Kurwongbah, and parts of Aspley, Everton and Kallangur.

Publications

• Speaking for myself again: four years with Labor and beyond, HarperCollins, Pymble, NSW: 2002.