Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2004. Re-elected 2010 and 2016. Resigned 2.11.2017.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.6.2008 to 15.6.2009.
• Deputy President of the Senate from 4.7.2011 to 7.7.2014.
• President of the Senate from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• President of the Senate from 30.8.2016 to 13.11.2017.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 1.7.2011 to 24.6.2013
• Joint Standing: Migration served from 1.7.2005 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2011 to 1.7.2014; National Capital and External Territories served from 4.7.2011 to 7.7.2014
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 11.8.2005 to 17.10.2007; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 23.3.2007 to 1.7.2014; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 9.5.2007 to 11.3.2008; Australian Crime Commission served from 9.5.2007 to 25.11.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 25.9.2008 to 1.7.2014; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 5.8.2013; Intelligence and Security served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Law Enforcement served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 14.9.2005 to 6.10.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 11.9.2006 to 12.2.2007; Economics served as Substitute member from 13.10.2006 to 13.10.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.2.2007 to 11.2.2008; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Substitute member from 19.2.2007 to 23.2.2007; Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 12.2.2008 to 24.11.2008; Finance and Public Administration served from 24.11.2008 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 14.5.2009 to 11.3.2010; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 11.3.2010 to 1.7.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 11.3.2010 to 18.8.2011
• Senate Select: Men's Health served from 25.11.2008 to 4.12.2008; Cyber-Safety served from 28.6.2013 to 30.8.2013
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 12.9.2006 to 20.4.2007; Scrutiny of Bills served from 23.3.2007 to 11.2.2008; Selection of Bills served as Chair from 21.4.2007 to 11.2.2008; House served from 9.5.2007 to 11.11.2013; Appropriations and Staffing served from 9.5.2007 to 11.11.2013; Procedure served from 20.6.2007 to 11.11.2013; Selection of Bills served from 12.2.2008 to 4.7.2011; Publications served from 12.3.2008 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 4.2.2009 to 12.5.2009; Procedure served as Chair from 12.11.2013 to 6.7.2014; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served as Chair from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; House served as Chair from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 2.11.2017; Procedure served from 1.9.2016 to 2.11.2017

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.2005 to 02.11.2017
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 16.2.2009 to 19.7.2010.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 11.9.2006 to 21.4.2007.
• Government Chief Whip in the Senate from 21.4.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 4.7.2011.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party from 1980.
• President of the Liberal Party Cradle Coast Branch (Tas.) from 1999 to 2005.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Braddon Federal Electorate Council (Tas.) from 2000 to 2002.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Tas.) from 2000 to 2002.

Personal

• Born: 31.10.1960, Burnie, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Qualification as Master Funeral Director.
• Certificate in Mortuary Science.
• Graduate.
• Police officer from 1977 to 1986.
• Member and Chief Instructor at Surf Lifesaving Australia, Burnie (Tas.) from 1981 to 1983.
• Detective from 1983 to 1986.
• Funeral director from 1986 to 2004.
• Member of Rotary Club, Ulverstone West (Tas.) from 1987.
• Club Captain at Surf Lifesaving Australia, Ulverstone (Tas.) from 1991 to 1993.
• President of Rotary Club, Ulverstone West from 1992 to 1993.
• Embalmer from 1995 to 2004.
• Deputy Chairman of the Australian Institute of Embalming from 1996 to 1997.
• Chairman of the Australian College of Funeral Service from 1999 to 2000.
• President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Burnie (Tas.) from 2000 to 2004.
• Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tas.) from 2000 to 2004.
• President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association from 2001 to 2003.