Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2004. Defeated at general elections 2010.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served as Chair from 16.3.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2005 to 30.6.2011
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 1.7.2005 to 9.11.2005
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 11.9.2006 to 10.5.2007; Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 12.2.2008 to 1.7.2008; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment, Communications and the Arts: References served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.10.2009 to 21.10.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2011; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2011; Environment and Communications: References served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2011
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2005 to 13.2.2008; Publications served from 1.7.2005 to 1.7.2008; House served from 14.2.2008 to 27.9.2010; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 14.2.2008 to 11.5.2010; Regulations and Ordinances served from 12.5.2010 to 12.5.2010

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary Delegate to Denmark, Sweden and Greece, April 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2005 to 30.06.2011
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 12.2.2008 to 30.6.2008.

Party positions

• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Affirmative Action Monitoring Committee.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA) from 1981 to 1982.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA) from 1994 to 2008.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (SA) from 1995 to 2008.

Other positions

• Member of the University of South Australia School of Communication, Information and New Media Advisory Committee.
• Member of the University of South Australia Journalism Advisory Committee.
• Member of the South Australian Association for Media Education Executive.
• Member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
• Delegate of the United Trades and Labour Council (South Australia) from 1984 to 2005.
• Member of the United Trades and Labour Council (South Australia) Executive from 1996 to 2005.

Personal

• Born: 1959, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEd(CommSt) (University of South Australia).
• DipT (Salisbury College of Advanced Education).
• School teacher from 1980 to 1987.
• Education officer from 1988 to 1990.
• Education editor and journalist from 1991 to 1994.
• Industrial Officer for the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance from 1994 to 1997.
• Assistant Secretary of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (SA/NT) from 1997 to 2001.
• Secretary of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (SA/NT) from 2001 to 2005.