Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Ballarat, Victoria, 1990. Re-elected 1993, 1996, 1998. Retired prior to general elections 2001. Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2004. Re-elected 2010. Resigned 28.2.2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Development from 14.10.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Special Minister of State from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 16.5.1990 to 29.1.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 7.3.1991 to 8.2.1993; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 14.9.1992 to 8.2.1993; Employment, Education and Training served from 29.6.1994 to 29.1.1996; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served as Chair from 29.5.1996 to 16.10.1996; Members' Interests served from 29.5.1996 to 14.10.1996; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 17.10.1996 to 14.12.1996; Selection served from 10.11.1998 to 8.10.2001; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 9.12.1998 to 17.2.2000; Employment, Education and Workplace Relations served from 7.2.2001 to 29.3.2001
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 20.3.2008 to 24.6.2009
• 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 9.5.2007; Economics served from 8.2.2007 to 8.2.2007; Economics served as Chair from 9.2.2007 to 11.2.2008; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 4.2.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 4.2.2016
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 1.7.2005 to 11.2.2008; Regulations and Ordinances served from 13.2.2008 to 16.3.2012; Privileges served from 12.10.2015 to 4.2.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 24.03.1990 to 08.10.2001, 01.07.2005 to 28.02.2016
• Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 26.5.1994 to 25.9.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training from 26.10.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Special Minister of State from 6.12.2007 to 14.9.2010.
• Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Minister for Scrutiny of Government Waste from 8.12.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Centenary of ANZAC from 3.3.2011 to 18.9.2013.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 18.10.1998 to 8.10.2001.

Party positions

• Officeholder of the Liberal Party Newington Branch (Vic.).
• Member of the Liberal Party from 1981.
• Member of the Liberal Party Administrative Committee (Vic.) from 2001 to 2004.

Personal

• Born: 13.2.1954, Ballarat, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Melbourne).

Local Government service

• Councillor, Ballarat City Council from 1981 to 1987.