Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 2004. Re-elected 2010 and 2016. Election ruled void 27.10.2017 under section 44 (i) of the Constitution; ruled ineligible from 2.7.2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Health from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister for Rural Health from 21.9.2015 to 19.7.2016.
• Minister for Regional Development from 18.2.2016 to 27.10.2017.
• Minister for Regional Communications from 18.2.2016 to 27.10.2017.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.2.2016 to 27.10.2017.
• Minister for Local Government and Territories from 19.7.2016 to 27.10.2017.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 2.3.2006 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 16.8.2005 to 23.3.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 9.5.2006 to 17.10.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 12.3.2008 to 5.12.2008; Law Enforcement served from 16.3.2012 to 18.3.2012; Law Enforcement served as Deputy Chair from 19.3.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 16.8.2005 to 6.9.2005; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 16.8.2005 to 10.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 9.2.2006 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.5.2006 to 29.5.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 11.9.2006 to 24.9.2008; Environment, Communications and the Arts served as Substitute member from 1.12.2008 to 30.4.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 12.3.2009 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 28.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 11.5.2012 to 11.5.2012
• Senate Select: Agricultural and Related Industries served from 14.2.2008 to 23.8.2010; National Broadband Network served from 26.6.2008 to 17.6.2010
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 16.8.2005 to 11.2.2008; Senators' Interests served from 16.8.2005 to 11.2.2008; Selection of Bills served from 6.2.2007 to 22.9.2008; Procedure served from 16.8.2007 to 11.2.2008; Appropriations and Staffing served from 14.2.2008 to 12.3.2009

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 01.07.2005 to 27.10.2017
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water Resources and Conservation from 22.9.2008 to 1.12.2008.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Education from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• The Nationals Party Whip in the Senate from 6.2.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 27.6.2008 to 27.10.2017.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 11.2.2016 to 27.10.2017.

Party positions

• Member of the Nationals Central Council (NSW) from 1997.
• Chair of the Nationals Lachlan State Electorate Council (NSW) from 1997 to 2002.
• Member of the Nationals Central Executive (NSW) from 1999 to 2005.
• Delegate to the Nationals Federal Council from 2002.
• Delegate to the Nationals Women's Federal Council from 2002 to 2005.
• Treasurer of the Nationals Women's Federal Council, 2003.
• Member of the Nationals Central Council Campaign Committee (NSW) from 2003.

Personal

• Born: 6.5.1965, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(LibSt) (Mitchell College of Advanced Education).
• Farming partner from 1991.
• Ministerial staffer from 1999 to 2004.