Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2014. Re-elected 2016 and 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 14.10.2015 to 10.9.2018.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.7.2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Home Affairs from 28.8.2018 to 2.3.2019.
• Minister for Defence Industry from 2.3.2019 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery from 2.3.2019 to 29.5.2019.
• Cabinet Minister from 2.3.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Defence from 29.5.2019 to 30.3.2021.
• Minister for Government Services from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Australia Fund Establishment served from 29.10.2014 to 25.6.2015
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 1.7.2014 to 15.3.2016; Electoral Matters served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Electoral Matters served from 12.9.2016 to 13.9.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Electoral Matters served as Chair from 14.9.2016 to 29.8.2018; Migration served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017; Electoral Matters served from 30.8.2018 to 10.9.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.8.2022 to present; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 13.6.2023 to 4.12.2023; Electoral Matters served from 19.10.2023 to present
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 12.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Public Works served from 1.8.2022 to 13.6.2023; Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.8.2022 to 1.8.2022; Public Accounts and Audit served as Deputy Chair from 2.8.2022 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 15.6.2015; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2014 to 15.6.2015; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 12.10.2015; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.7.2014 to 12.10.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.9.2014 to 19.9.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 12.10.2015 to 23.2.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 12.10.2015; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 13.10.2015; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 13.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.10.2015 to 23.10.2015; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.2.2016 to 11.2.2016; Community Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 17.8.2017; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 17.8.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 15.2.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 15.2.2017; Environment and Communications: References served from 15.2.2017 to 17.8.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 16.2.2017 to 21.8.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 17.6.2017 to 27.6.2018; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 17.8.2017 to 5.2.2018; Education and Employment: References served as Chair from 17.8.2017 to 5.2.2018; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 14.9.2017 to 15.11.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 5.2.2018 to 6.2.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 5.2.2018 to 6.2.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Deputy Chair from 7.2.2018 to 31.8.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Chair from 7.2.2018 to 29.8.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 30.8.2018 to 10.9.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.9.2018 to 10.9.2018; Environment and Communications: References served from 13.6.2023 to 20.6.2023; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.7.2024 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 9.9.2024 to present
• Senate Select: Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru served from 10.8.2015 to 31.8.2015; National Broadband Network served from 12.10.2015 to 4.5.2016; School Funding Investment served from 4.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Future of Work and Workers served from 16.11.2017 to 22.3.2018; Australia's Disaster Resilience served from 1.12.2022 to present; Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance served from 22.6.2023 to present; Adopting Artificial Intelligence served from 27.3.2024 to 26.11.2024
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 10.9.2015 to 16.9.2015; Publications served as Chair from 17.9.2015 to 9.5.2016; Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.9.2016 to 27.6.2018; Publications served from 12.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 1.8.2022 to present; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 20.6.2023 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.2014 to present

Party positions

• President of the Liberal Party Hasluck Women's Committee (WA).
• Member of the Liberal Party from 1987.
• President of the Young Liberal Movement Canning Branch (WA) from 1987 to 1988.
• President of the Young Liberal Movement Pearce Branch (WA), 1989.
• Vice-President of the Young Liberal Movement Development Committee from 1989 to 1990.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Kalamunda Branch (WA) from 1990 to 1991.
• Treasurer of the Liberal Party Kalamunda Branch (WA) from 1990 to 1992.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Pearce Division (WA) from 1991 to 1992.
• Senior Vice-President of the Liberal Party Pearce Division (WA) from 1992 to 1993.
• Campaign Manager of the Liberal Party Pearce Division (WA) from 1993.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Pearce Division (WA), 1994.
• Deputy Director of the Federal Liberal Party from 2006 to 2008.
• Manager of the Federal Liberal Party Campaign Committee, 2007.
• Manager of the Liberal Party Hasluck Campaign Committee (WA), 2013.

Personal

• Born: 16.5.1965, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Graduate.
• CertIVAsmt&WrkTrng (Southern Cross University).
• Diploma in Training Development.
• GradCertTrng&Dev (Australian Army).
• GradCertTrng&Dev (Southern Cross University).
• GradDipDefMgt (University of Canberra).
• BCom (Curtin University).
• GradCertStratSt (Australian Defence College).
• Electoral Officer and Shadow Ministerial Adviser from 1990 to 1994.
• Senior Government Training Manager and Senior Campaign Officer for the Liberal Party from 1996 to 1998.
• Senior Training and Development Officer at the Army Command and Staff Training College Command from 1999 to 2000.
• Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister for Justice and Customs from 2001 to 2003.
• Project Director and Strategic Performance and Training Analyst at the Deep Space Communications Complex (NASA/JPL Facility), Canberra (ACT), 2004.
• Director of Strategy Development for Raytheon Australia, 2005.
• Deputy Director and Training Director of the Liberal Party from 2006 to 2008.
• Project Director of the Army-based Accountability Model Implementation Project from 2008 to 2009.
• Director of the Army Strategic Reform Program from 2009 to 2010.
• Army Adjutant General (Brigadier) from 2012 to 2013.

Military Service

• Officer Cadet.
• Regimental Logistics Officer (Second Lieutenant to Captain).
• Training Development Officer (Captain).
• Commanding Officer, 5th Combat Support Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel).
• Military Instructor, Army Command and Staff College (Lieutenant Colonel).
• Senior Career Manager (Lieutenant Colonel).
• Director, Active Standby Staff Group (Colonel).
• Course Member, Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.
• Army Adjutant General (Brigadier).
• Australian Army Reserve 1984-2012.