Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 16.8.2017 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice C Back (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 19.9.2018 to 18.10.2021.
• President of the Senate from 18.10.2021 to 25.7.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Migration served from 17.8.2017 to 5.2.2018; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 17.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; Parliamentary Library served from 17.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; Treaties served from 17.8.2017 to 11.4.2022; Parliamentary Library served from 1.8.2022 to 29.8.2022; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 29.8.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 1.8.2022 to 1.7.2023; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 1.8.2022 to present; National Anti-Corruption Commission served from 9.2.2023 to present; Parliamentary Standards served from 10.10.2024 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 17.8.2017 to 20.8.2017; Community Affairs: References served from 17.8.2017 to 10.9.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 17.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 17.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 21.8.2017 to 10.9.2018; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 10.9.2018 to 10.9.2018; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 10.9.2018 to 11.9.2018; Education and Employment: References served from 10.9.2018 to 11.9.2018; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 11.9.2018 to 1.7.2019; Education and Employment: References served as Deputy Chair from 12.9.2018 to 1.7.2019; Economics: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Economics: References served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Economics: References served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 18.10.2021; Economics: Legislation served as Chair from 4.7.2019 to 18.10.2021; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.8.2022 to 13.6.2023; Community Affairs: References served from 1.8.2022 to 13.6.2023; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.8.2022 to 13.6.2023; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 13.6.2023 to present; Education and Employment: References served from 13.6.2023 to present
• Senate Select: Lending to Primary Production Customers served from 17.8.2017 to 6.12.2017; Red Tape served from 17.8.2017 to 3.12.2018; Political Influence of Donations served from 11.9.2017 to 5.2.2018; Multi-Jurisdictional Management and Execution of the Murray Darling Basin Plan served from 24.7.2019 to 31.7.2019; Multi-Jurisdictional Management and Execution of the Murray Darling Basin Plan served as Chair from 1.8.2019 to 30.9.2021; COVID-19 served as Substitute member from 22.9.2020 to 22.9.2020; COVID-19 served as Substitute member from 24.9.2020 to 24.9.2020; COVID-19 served as Substitute member from 11.3.2021 to 11.3.2021; Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance served from 22.6.2023 to present; PFAS served from 22.8.2024 to present
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 17.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; House served as Chair from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Procedure served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Privileges served from 15.10.2019 to 20.10.2021; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served as Chair from 18.10.2021 to 25.7.2022; Privileges served from 1.8.2022 to 3.8.2022; Privileges served as Chair from 4.8.2022 to present; Publications served from 13.6.2023 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 16.08.2017 to present
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 2.7.2019 to 18.10.2021.

Party positions

• Treasurer of the Liberal Party O'Connor Division (WA) from 2008 to 2012.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Election Marginal Seats Campaign Committee (WA), 2008.
• State Councillor of the Liberal Party O'Connor Division (WA) from 2009 to 2015.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 2010 to 2012.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Election Marginal Seats Campaign Committee, 2010.
• Member of the Rick Wilson for O'Connor Liberal Party Campaign Committee from 2013 to 2019.
• Senate Candidate for the Liberal Party from 2013 to 2014.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council, 2014.
• President of the Liberal Party O'Connor Division (WA) from 2015 to 2017.
• Chair of the Rick Wilson for O'Connor Liberal Party Campaign Committee, 2016.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council, 2017.
• Member of the Nicole Robins for Fremantle Liberal Party Campaign Committee, 2019.

Personal

• Born: 27.3.1970, Manjimup, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Hons) (Murdoch University).
• LLB (University of New England).
• Policy Director of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association (WA) from 2005 to 2008.
• Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser to Senator the Hon. M Cormann from 2008 to 2016.
• Campaign Director of the Australian Grains Champion from 2016 to 2017.