Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of South Australia on 5.9.2012 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice M Fisher (resigned). Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2016. Re-elected 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.11.2013 to 7.7.2014.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources from 21.9.2015 to 28.8.2018.
• Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Families and Social Services from 29.5.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Cabinet Minister from 29.5.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Women's Safety from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 23.6.2015 to 25.6.2015
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 12.9.2012 to 1.7.2014; Human Rights served from 29.10.2012 to 5.8.2013; Public Works served from 13.11.2013 to 27.3.2014
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment and Communications: References served from 11.9.2012 to 12.10.2015; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 23.11.2012 to 23.11.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 15.4.2014 to 16.4.2014; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 1.7.2014 to 12.10.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 3.3.2015; Education and Employment: References served from 1.7.2014 to 3.3.2015
• Senate Select: National Broadband Network served from 2.12.2013 to 12.10.2015; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 12.12.2014 to 12.12.2014; Murray-Darling Basin Plan served from 25.6.2015 to 12.10.2015; Work and Care served from 4.8.2022 to 9.3.2023
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 13.11.2013 to 12.10.2015; Scrutiny of Bills served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Senators' Interests served from 13.11.2013 to 12.10.2015; Procedure served from 1.7.2014 to 14.10.2015; Selection of Bills served from 1.7.2014 to 12.10.2015; House served from 1.7.2014 to 12.10.2015; Selection of Bills served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 2.7.2019 to present; Procedure served from 1.8.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 05.09.2012 to present
• Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care from 5.6.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Sport from 5.6.2022.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 5.6.2022.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 5.6.2022.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 23.8.2018 to 28.8.2018.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 29.5.2019 to 21.5.2022.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 5.6.2022.

Party positions

• Vice-President of the Liberal Party (SA), 2011.

Personal

• Born: 10.6.1963, Renmark, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BBus (University of Southern Queensland).
• Electorate officer from 1987 to 1993.
• Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister for Industrial Affairs, Tourism, Recreation, Sport and Racing (SA) from 1993 to 1996.
• Chief Executive of the National Wine Centre from 1996 to 2002.
• Owner/operator of Ruston's Roses from 2003 to 2012.