Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for Napier, 1993. Defeated at general elections 2002.
• Federal: Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2004. Retired with the expiration of term 2011.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 4.9.2008 to 30.6.2011.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 28.2.2007 to 17.10.2007; Public Accounts and Audit served from 26.10.2010 to 30.6.2011; Corporations and Financial Services served from 26.10.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 7.12.2005 to 27.2.2006; Economics served from 28.2.2007 to 13.2.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 12.2.2008 to 5.2.2009; Economics served as Chair from 14.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 17.3.2008 to 1.7.2008; Economics: Legislation served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 30.6.2011; Economics: References served from 14.5.2009 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 28.2.2007 to 11.2.2008; Procedure served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2011; Privileges served from 14.2.2008 to 13.8.2009

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Fiji, November 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September-October 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Thailand, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Bhutan and Mongolia, July 2010.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2005 to 30.06.2011
• Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 8.8.2005 to 7.12.2006.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 8.8.2005 to 7.12.2006.

Party positions

• President of the Australian Labor Party (SA) from 1997 to 1998.
• President of the Australian Labor Party (SA) from 2001 to 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 2004.

Personal

• Born: 1955, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSc (University of Adelaide).
• Director of a public affairs company from 2002 to 2004.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for Napier, 1993. Defeated at general elections 2002.
• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 23.9.1994 to 8.2.2002.
• Shadow Minister for Housing and Urban Development from 23.9.1994 to 23.10.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Local Government from 23.9.1994 to 23.10.1997.
• Shadow Minister assisting in Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs from 23.9.1994 to 24.2.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from 25.2.1997 to 23.10.1997.
• Shadow Minister for Government Enterprises and Infrastructure from 23.10.1997 to 13.7.2000.
• Shadow Minister for Mines and Energy from 23.10.1997 to 13.7.2000.
• Deputy Leader of the State Parliamentary Labor Party from 23.10.1997 to 8.2.2002.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 23.10.1997 to 8.2.2002.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development from 28.9.1998 to 8.2.2002.
• Shadow Minister for Public Sector Employment from 28.9.1998 to 13.7.2000.
• Shadow Minister for Primary Industries from 13.7.2000 to 8.2.2002.
• Shadow Minister for Science and Technology (including Information Technology) from 13.7.2000 to 8.2.2002.