Biography

Parliamentary service

• Appointed by the Governor of Tasmania on 4.2.2002 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. J Newman (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2001. Re-elected 2007 and 2013. Defeated at general elections 2016. Declared elected 9.2.2018 as a Senator for Tasmania by the High Court of Australia, vice the Hon. S Parry (resigned). and 2019.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 26.7.2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 26.10.2004 to 27.1.2006.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister for Tourism and International Education from 21.9.2015 to 19.7.2016.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment from 21.9.2015 to 19.7.2016.
• Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians from 29.5.2019 to 22.12.2020.
• Minister for Youth and Sport from 29.5.2019 to 22.12.2020.
• Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services from 22.12.2020 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Sport from 22.12.2020 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 19.3.2002 to 1.7.2002; Trade and Investment Growth served from 12.2.2018 to 10.9.2018; Trade and Investment Growth served from 1.8.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.2.2002 to 25.3.2003; Public Works served from 22.8.2002 to 31.8.2004; Law Enforcement served from 12.2.2018 to 10.9.2018; Public Works served from 13.6.2023 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.2.2002 to 19.2.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.3.2002 to 22.3.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 19.3.2002 to 22.3.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 25.3.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.6.2002 to 21.6.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 29.11.2002 to 29.11.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 6.8.2003 to 6.8.2003; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.2.2004 to 20.2.2004; Community Affairs served as Substitute member from 15.5.2008 to 24.6.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 20.8.2009 to 14.9.2009; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.3.2011 to 15.6.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 24.3.2011 to 24.3.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.5.2011 to 23.6.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.9.2011 to 2.11.2011; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 6.10.2011 to 6.10.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.11.2011 to 27.2.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 29.11.2011 to 29.11.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.10.2012 to 25.3.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 20.3.2013 to 19.6.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 12.2.2018 to 10.9.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.8.2022 to present; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.8.2022 to 1.8.2022; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.8.2022 to 1.8.2022; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 2.8.2022 to present; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Chair from 2.8.2022 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 9.9.2024 to present
• Senate Select: Housing Affordability in Australia served from 14.2.2008 to 16.6.2008; Climate Policy served from 17.3.2009 to 18.3.2009; Climate Policy served as Chair from 19.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Australia's Food Processing Sector served from 16.6.2011 to 6.7.2011; Australia's Food Processing Sector served as Chair from 7.7.2011 to 16.8.2012; Obesity Epidemic in Australia served from 10.5.2018 to 10.9.2018; Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme served from 21.8.2024 to 19.12.2024
• Senate Standing: House served from 19.3.2002 to 15.11.2004; Publications served as Chair from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Regulations and Ordinances served from 16.3.2012 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 12.2.2018 to 10.9.2018; Privileges served from 12.2.2018 to 10.9.2018

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 04.02.2002 to 02.07.2016, 09.02.2018 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 22.9.2008 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party from 1990.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (Tas.) from 1991.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Tas.) from 1992.
• Member of the Liberal Party Policy Advisory Committee (Tas.) from 1993 to 1997.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 2000 to 2002.
• President of the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 2000 to 2002.

Personal

• Born: 5.4.1958, Myrtleford, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• CertTech(Building) (Devonport Technical College).
• CertCarpt&Join (Devonport Technical College).
• CertSmlBusMgt (Devonport Technical College).
• Apprentice carpenter and joiner from 1977 to 1979.
• Trainee estimator and supervisor from 1977 to 1979.
• Manager from 1979 to 1984.
• Building estimator and supervisor from 1984 to 1989.
• Managing director and proprietor of building consultancy from 1989.
• Director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tas.) from 1998 to 2001.

Local Government service

• Alderman, Devonport City Council from 1999 to 2002.