Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Calwell, Victoria, 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022. Retired prior to general elections 2025.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 28.7.2022 to 28.3.2025.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 20.10.2010 to 5.8.2013.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 1.9.2016 to 28.3.2025.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Procedure served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 25.5.2006 to 17.10.2007; Industry, Science and Innovation served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Petitions served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Appropriations and Administration served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Communications and the Arts served from 10.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Industry, Science and Resources served from 28.7.2022 to 28.3.2025; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 28.7.2022 to 10.5.2023
• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 19.7.2010; Australia's Immigration Detention Network served from 4.7.2011 to 30.3.2012; Road Safety served from 17.3.2021 to 25.3.2022; Parliamentary Standards served from 28.7.2022 to 29.11.2022
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.12.2004 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 18.2.2008 to 26.11.2009; Migration served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Migration served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.9.2016 to 28.3.2025; Migration served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 24.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Migration served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to 28.3.2025; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 11.9.2023 to 28.3.2025
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 2.12.2004 to 8.12.2004; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served as Deputy Chair from 9.12.2004 to 10.5.2005; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 11.5.2005 to 16.6.2005; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Australian Crime Commission served from 25.10.2010 to 25.11.2010; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to present

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Affirmative Action Working Party.
• Officeholder of the Australian Labor Party local branch.

Personal

• Born: 4.1.1959, Lefkada, Greece
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (University of Melbourne).
• BA (University of Melbourne).
• High school teacher from 1982 to 1987.
• Electorate Officer to Dr A Theophanous, MP, 1988.
• Executive Assistant to the Hon. J Kirner, MLA, 1989.
• Electorate Officer to Dr A Theophanous, MP, 1990.
• Personal Secretary to the Hon. A McCutcheon, MLA, 1991.
• Electorate Officer to Senator K Carr from 1993 to 2001.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Northcote City Council from 1990 to 1992.

Electorate

• Name: Calwell
• Location: The Division of Calwell consists of: part of the Brimbank City Council, and part of the Hume City Council.
• Area: 265 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 107,507 (at 11.6.2019)
• Industries: Manufacturing, food processing, transport and freight, postal and warehousing, retail, construction, aviation, education and training, and tourism.