Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Wakefield, South Australia, 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007. Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2010. Re-elected 2016 and 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 25.8.2011 to 7.7.2014.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.10.2017 to 10.9.2018.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.7.2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Defence from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Education and Vocational Training served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Family and Human Services served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition of Local Government served from 28.11.2012 to 7.3.2013
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 23.8.2011 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 12.9.2016 to 6.9.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 7.9.2018 to 10.9.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 22.7.2019 to 23.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 24.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Deputy Chair from 3.8.2022 to present; Treaties served from 20.6.2023 to present
• Joint Statutory: Intelligence and Security served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Corporations and Financial Services served from 2.12.2013 to 8.12.2013; Corporations and Financial Services served as Chair from 9.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Intelligence and Security served from 13.9.2016 to 11.4.2022
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 18.3.2013 to 18.3.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 21.3.2013 to 21.3.2013; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.11.2014 to 20.11.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 16.11.2016 to 16.11.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 8.2.2017 to 11.5.2017; Environment and Communications: References served from 8.2.2017 to 11.5.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 15.2.2017 to 5.2.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 15.2.2017 to 5.2.2018; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 5.2.2018 to 22.3.2018; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 5.2.2018 to 22.3.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to present; Environment and Communications: References served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 4.7.2019 to 1.9.2021; Environment and Communications: References served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 1.9.2021; Environment and Communications: References served from 2.9.2021 to 2.9.2021; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 2.9.2021 to 2.9.2021; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.8.2022 to present
• Senate Select: Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill served as Chair from 1.12.2016 to 15.2.2017; Future of Work and Workers served as Substitute member from 14.5.2018 to 14.5.2018
• Senate Standing: Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; House served from 12.10.2015 to 14.10.2015; Selection of Bills served from 14.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Selection of Bills served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; House served from 12.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Privileges served from 1.8.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 09.10.2004 to 24.11.2007, 01.07.2011 to present
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 30.8.2016 to 10.9.2018.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (SA), 2008.

Personal

• Born: 23.10.1963, Narrabri, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MBA (Queensland University of Technology).
• BSc (University of New South Wales).
• Army officer from 1982 to 2004.
• Defence and aviation consultant from 2008 to 2010.

Military Service

• Experimental test pilot.
• Commanding Officer, RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit, Edinburgh, SA.