Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2004. Re-elected 2010, 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 26.7.2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.7.2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Australia's Immigration Detention Network served from 1.7.2011 to 30.3.2012; Constitutional Recognition of Local Government served from 1.11.2012 to 7.3.2013; Road Safety served from 5.2.2020 to 17.6.2020; National Anti-Corruption Commission Legislation served from 28.9.2022 to 10.11.2022; Northern Australia served from 13.6.2023 to present
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2005 to 1.7.2008; Electoral Matters served from 6.12.2006 to 6.12.2006; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 7.12.2006 to 13.2.2008; Electoral Matters served from 14.2.2008 to 14.2.2008; Treaties served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 1.9.2016 to 10.11.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 28.7.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 26.10.2010 to 7.2.2012; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; National Anti-Corruption Commission served from 9.2.2023 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 11.9.2006 to 12.2.2008; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 12.2.2008 to 1.7.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served as Chair from 13.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 14.5.2009 to 13.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.10.2011 to 21.10.2011; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.10.2012 to 18.10.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.3.2014 to 24.3.2014; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 3.3.2016 to 13.4.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 4.7.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2021 to 19.4.2023; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to 2.8.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Chair from 2.8.2022 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Deputy Chair from 2.8.2022 to present
• 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; Men's Health served from 27.11.2008 to 29.5.2009; Australia's Food Processing Sector served from 1.7.2011 to 16.8.2012; Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance served from 22.6.2023 to present; Supermarket Prices served as Deputy Chair from 7.12.2023 to present; Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme served from 22.8.2024 to present
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2005 to 13.9.2005; Publications served from 1.7.2005 to 8.7.2014; Privileges served from 26.10.2010 to 7.2.2012; House served from 26.10.2010 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 28.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2005 to present
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety from 28.6.2018 to 23.5.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1991.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (WA) from 1999.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Transport Policy Committee, 2000.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2002.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2004.

Personal

• Born: 3.1.1960, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Furniture removalist, truck driver and owner-operator from 1977 to 1991.
• Organiser for the Transport Workers' Union from 1991 to 2005.
• Member of the Branch Management Committee for the Transport Workers' Union from 1991 to 2005.
• Councillor for the Transport Workers' Union from 1998 to 2005.

Honours

• Awarded the Centenary Medal, 1.1.2001.