Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 1990. Re-elected 1996, 2001 and 2007. Resigned 1.6.2012.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.11.1998 to 12.2.2002.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy from 24.3.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
• Assistant Treasurer from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Small Business from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister Assisting on Deregulation from 14.9.2010 to 26.1.2011.
• Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Public Sector Superannuation from 26.1.2011 to 14.12.2011.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Gambling Reform served from 27.2.2012 to 1.6.2012
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 28.6.2001 to 8.10.2001; Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2005 to 17.10.2007; Corporations and Financial Services served from 7.2.2012 to 1.6.2012; Public Accounts and Audit served from 7.2.2012 to 1.6.2012
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group F served from 24.8.1990 to 3.5.1993; Estimates Group C served from 10.5.1993 to 11.5.1993; Estimates Group D served from 2.9.1993 to 3.9.1993
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 24.8.1990 to 3.5.1993; Rural and Regional Affairs served from 10.9.1991 to 3.5.1993; Economics: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 1.6.1997; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 2.5.1996 to 31.10.1996; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 1.7.1996 to 8.7.1996; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 26.7.1996 to 22.8.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 3.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Economics: References served from 24.11.1998 to 3.12.1998; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.8.1999 to 2.9.1999; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 24.8.1999 to 17.9.1999; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 22.9.1999 to 13.3.2000; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.11.1999 to 3.12.1999; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.6.2001 to 8.6.2001; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.5.2004 to 15.6.2004; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.6.2004 to 21.6.2004; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 21.6.2007 to 27.7.2007; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.2.2012 to 16.2.2012; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.5.2012 to 1.6.2012
• Senate Select: Animal Welfare served from 24.8.1990 to 3.9.1991; Superannuation served from 14.8.1991 to 20.8.1991; Superannuation served as Chair from 21.8.1991 to 30.6.1993; Sales Tax Legislation served from 25.6.1992 to 19.8.1992; Functions, Powers and Operation of the Australian Loan Council served as Deputy Chair from 10.11.1992 to 14.12.1993; Superannuation served from 1.7.1993 to 1.9.1993; Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Superannuation served from 29.5.1996 to 27.10.1997; Socio-Economic Consequences of the National Competition Policy served from 8.7.1998 to 31.8.1998; New Tax System served from 26.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; Superannuation and Financial Services served from 30.9.1999 to 8.10.2001; Superannuation served from 19.3.2002 to 10.9.2003; Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters served from 23.6.2003 to 31.3.2004
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 24.8.1990 to 3.5.1993; Senators' Interests served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Appropriations and Staffing served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Regulations and Ordinances served from 3.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Privileges served from 3.3.1998 to 11.2.2008; Parliamentary Library served from 24.11.1998 to 1.7.2002; Publications served from 24.11.1998 to 9.8.1999; Appropriations and Staffing served from 14.5.2008 to 1.6.2012; Privileges served from 7.2.2012 to 1.6.2012

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia, January-February 1991.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada, October 1992.
• Leader, Official Delegation to Taiwan 1993.
• Leader, Official Delegation to Hong Kong and China, July 1994.
• Official visit to Papua New Guinea, February 1995.
• Attended funeral of the former Greek President, His Excellency Mr Andreas Papandreou, Greece, July 1996.
• Bilateral visits to Sweden and Estonia, October 1999.
• Delegate, Global Horizons Pension and Lifetime Savings Conference, Washington DC, May 2002.
• Official visits to the UK and Ireland, January 2008.
• Official visits to Spain and UK, May 2008.
• Official visits to New Zealand, June 2008.
• Official visits to New Zealand, July 2008.
• Official visits to the USA, August 2008.
• Official visits to Vanuatu, October 2008.
• Official visits to New Zealand, November 2008.
• Official visits to Singapore and Indonesia, April-May 2009.
• Official visits to the USA, July 2009.
• Official visits to New Zealand, August 2009.
• Official visits to Turkey, October 2009.
• Official visits to Cook Islands, October 2009.
• Official visits to Uzbekistan, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates, April-May 2010.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, July 2010.
• Official visits to China, April 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1990 to 01.06.2012
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 19.3.1996 to 7.10.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 19.3.1996 to 7.10.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Finance and Superannuation from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Assistant Treasurer from 27.3.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Superannuation and Business Regulation from 27.3.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Finance, Superannuation and Business Regulation from 26.8.1997 to 7.10.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Retirement Incomes and Savings from 25.11.2001 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 25.11.2001 to 18.2.2003.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Finance and Superannuation from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Superannuation and Intergenerational Finance from 24.6.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services from 24.6.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Living Standards and Economic Development Caucus Committee from 1998.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1979 to 1983.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Lindisfarne Branch (Tas.) from 1983 to 1986.
• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.) from 1984 to 1985.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Lindisfarne Branch (Tas.) from 1987 to 1990.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1989 to 1990.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Rules Committee (Tas.) from 1989 to 1990.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1991 to 1993.
• Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.), 1993.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1995 to 1997.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.) from 1996 to 2002.

Personal

• Born: 19.11.1955, Kingston-on-Thames, England
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Tasmania).
• Secretary of the University Union (Tas.) from 1976 to 1979.
• Cashier and night auditor at Wrest Point Hotel Casino from 1976 to 1979.
• Secretary of the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Union (Tas.) from 1979 to 1990.
• Negotiator for the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Union (Tas.) from 1979 to 1990.
• Board Member of the College of Hospitality from 1980 to 1990.
• Councillor and Trustee of the Federated Liquor and Allied Industries Union (Tas.) from 1981 to 1990.
• Executive for the Trades and Labour Council (Tas.) from 1985 to 1990.
• Member of the Hospitality Group Training Board from 1985 to 1990.
• Trustee of the Host-Plus Superannuation Fund from 1986 to 1990.
• Manager, Trustee and Company Secretary of the Club-Plus Superannuation Fund (Tas.) from 1987 to 1992.
• Member of the Employment and Skills Formation Council Board from 1988 to 1990.
• President of the Trades and Labour Council (Tas.) from 1988 to 1990.