Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Fairfax, Queensland, 1990. Re-elected 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Advisory Council on Australian Archives from 24.6.1996 to 24.2.2011.
• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 13.2.2008 to 5.8.2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 12.8.2004 to 17.10.2007.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Print Media served from 22.8.1991 to 25.3.1992
• House of Representatives Standing: Finance and Public Administration served from 13.11.1990 to 27.11.1991; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 12.5.1993 to 10.5.1994; Banking, Finance and Public Administration served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Privileges served from 24.2.1994 to 29.1.1996; House served from 29.5.1996 to 22.10.1997; Members' Interests served from 29.5.1996 to 14.10.1996; Privileges served from 18.6.1996 to 22.10.1997; Members' Interests served as Chair from 15.10.1996 to 13.2.1997; Members' Interests served from 14.2.1997 to 23.10.1997; Procedure served from 29.9.1997 to 23.10.1997; Members' Interests served as Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Privileges served as Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; House served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 8.12.1998 to 17.10.2007; Industry and Resources served from 20.3.2002 to 25.6.2002; House served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Privileges served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 6.11.2003 to 31.8.2004; Privileges served from 1.9.2004 to 17.10.2007; Health and Ageing served as Chair from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 11.3.2008 to 5.8.2013; Procedure served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; House served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Petitions served from 30.11.2009 to 10.2.2010
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 8.12.1998 to 29.3.2001; National Capital and External Territories served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 24.5.2001 to 31.8.2004; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 16.5.1990 to 28.6.1994; Public Accounts served as Deputy Chair from 29.6.1994 to 29.1.1996; Public Accounts served from 30.1.1996 to 28.5.1996; Public Accounts served as Chair from 29.5.1996 to 22.10.1997; Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 18.6.1996 to 18.11.1997; Public Accounts and Audit served from 8.12.1998 to 16.8.2005; National Crime Authority served from 8.12.1998 to 5.10.2000; Public Accounts and Audit served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and USA, May-June 1992.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the European Institutions, Strasbourg, Belgium and Luxembourg, September-October 1993.
• Joint Public Accounts Committee visit to New Zealand, November 1994.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 93rd IPU Conference, Madrid, and bilateral visits to Egypt and Israel, March-April 1995.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 95th IPU Conference, Istanbul, April 1996.
• Member, Official Delegation to the 4th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum Annual Meeting, Cha'am and bilateral visit to Cambodia, January 1996.
• Attended CPA Regional Seminar, New Zealand and Sydney, September-October 1996.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to CPA Mid-year Executive Council, April 1997.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to France and Belgium, June-July 1997.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 101st IPU Conference, Brussels, Belgium and bilateral visit to Norway, April 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 102nd IPU Conference, Berlin, Germany and bilateral visit to Italy, October 1999.
• Attended IPU Conference of the Asia-Pacific Group, Mongolia, August 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 103rd IPU Conference, Amman, Jordan and bilateral visit to Tanzania, April-May 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 104th IPU Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia, and bilateral visit to Vietnam, October 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 105th IPU Conference, Havana, Cuba, and bilateral visit to Mexico, March-April 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Hungary, October 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 24.03.1990 to 05.08.2013
• Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet from 23.5.1992 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Chief Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 12.2.2008 to 5.8.2013.

Party positions

• Chair of the Liberal Party Maroochydore Branch (Qld).
• Member of the Liberal Party Policy and Development Committee (Qld).
• Chair of the Liberal Party Fairfax Federal Electorate Council (Qld).
• Member of the Liberal Party State Council (Qld).
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Conference (Qld) from 1990.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Qld), 2002.

Personal

• Born: 18.1.1946, Budapest, Hungary
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEc (Australian National University).
• Public servant.
• Consultant economist.
• Company director.
• Senior Private Secretary to the Hon. A Adermann, MP.

Electorate

• Name: Fairfax
• Location: coastal and inland region north of Brisbane; it includes the centres of Buderim, Coolum Beach, Eumundi, Kenilworth, Mapleton, Maroochydore, Nambour, Palmwoods, Peregian Springs, Woombye and Yandina.
• Area: 1,036 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 89,743 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: avocados, ginger, fruit juice, tropical fruits, dairy and beef cattle, tourism, construction, small business and infrastructure industries.
• Includes: Fairfax includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Buderim, and parts of Glass House, Maroochydore, Nicklin and Noosa.