Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Dobell, New South Wales, 2001. Re-elected 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 18.6.2002 to 17.10.2007; Industry and Resources served from 19.8.2002 to 15.9.2003; Family and Human Services served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Environment and Heritage served from 9.5.2006 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.12.2004 to 29.5.2006

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 10.11.2001 to 24.11.2007
• Chair of the Government Health and Ageing Policy Committee.
• Member of the Government Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Policy Committee.
• Member of the Government Education, Science and Training Policy Committee.
• Member of the Government Environment and Heritage Policy Committee.
• Member of the Government Transport, Regional Services, Territories and Local Government Policy Committee.
• Member of the Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation Policy Committee.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party The Entrance Branch (NSW) from 1996.
• Secretary of the Liberal Party Dobell Federal Electorate Conference (NSW), 1998.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (NSW) from 1998 to 2002.
• President of the Liberal Party The Entrance Branch (NSW) from 1999 to 2002.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Dobell Federal Electorate Conference (NSW) from 1999 to 2002.

Personal

• Born: 22.1.1945, Forbes, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• FIEAust (Institute of Engineers Australia).
• CertElecEng (Granville and Sydney TAFE).
• FAICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors).
• Apprentice electrical fitter from 1961 to 1965.
• Electrical technical officer from 1965 to 1971.
• Company manager from 1977 to 1982.
• Managing Director at Bowthorpe Australia from 1982 to 1990.
• Managing Director of Kattron Lightning Tracking from 1990 to 2002.

Electorate

• Name: Dobell
• Location: central coast of New South Wales; it includes the centres of Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Gorokan, Hamlyn Terrace, Ourimbah, The Entrance, Wadalba, Wamberal, Warnervale, Woongarra, Wyoming and Wyong.
• Area: 952 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 85,659 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: fruit, vegetables, manufacturing industries, prawning, fishing, tourism and mixed farming.
• Includes: Dobell includes the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of The Entrance, and parts of Gosford, Peats and Wyong.