Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2001. Re-elected 2007, 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• President of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Climate Change and Water from 3.12.2007 to 8.3.2010.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water from 8.3.2010 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Finance and Deregulation from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Foreign Affairs from 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.7.2002 to 17.9.2002; Corporations and Financial Services served as Deputy Chair from 18.9.2002 to 31.8.2004; Corporations and Financial Services served from 1.9.2004 to 17.10.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 16.7.2014 to 25.11.2014; Intelligence and Security served from 25.6.2015 to 9.5.2016; Intelligence and Security served from 13.9.2016 to 1.6.2022
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.7.2002 to 1.3.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.6.2003 to 26.11.2003; Economics: References served from 1.3.2004 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 18.11.2004 to 1.7.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 4.9.2014 to 1.10.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2015 to 6.11.2015
• Senate Select: Superannuation served from 10.12.2002 to 10.9.2003; Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters served from 23.6.2003 to 31.3.2004
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Senators' Interests served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Appropriations and Staffing served from 26.6.2013 to 11.11.2013; Procedure served from 26.6.2013 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.9.2016 to present; Procedure served from 1.9.2016 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2002 to present
• Shadow Minister for Corporate Governance and Responsibility from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Workforce Participation from 26.10.2004 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Workforce Participation from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Accountability from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 14.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 14.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs from 23.7.2016 to 23.5.2022.
• Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate from 4.2.2013 to 26.6.2013.
• Leader of the Government in the Senate from 26.6.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Leader of the Government in the Senate from 31.5.2022.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA) from 1989 to 1994.
• Deputy Convener of the Australian Labor Party State Platform Committee (SA) from 1990 to 1994.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (SA) from 1996 to 1999.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA) from 1996.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Ethnic Policy Network from 1998 to 1999.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Policy Committee on Industry, Infrastructure and Regional Development from 1998 to 2000.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 2000.
• Spokesperson for the Australian Labor Party National Election Campaign, 2007.
• Spokesperson for the Australian Labor Party National Election Campaign, 2013.
• Spokesperson for the Australian Labor Party National Election Campaign, 2016.

Other positions

• Member of the South Australian Law Society Human Rights Committee from 1998 to 2002.
• Chair of the UNIFEM Adelaide Breakfast Committee from 1999 to 2001.

Personal

• Born: 5.11.1968, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Juris) (University of Adelaide).
• LLB(Hons) (University of Adelaide).
• GradDipLegPrac (University of South Australia).
• Industrial officer from 1990 to 1994.
• Senior Policy Adviser to the Minister for Land and Conservation (NSW), the Hon. K Yeadon from 1995 to 1996.
• Barrister and solicitor from 1996 to 1999.
• Legal officer from 1999 to 2002.