Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2016. Re-elected 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Education from 1.6.2022.
• Assistant Minister for Regional Development from 1.6.2022.
• Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 29.7.2024.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Trade and Investment Growth served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 14.9.2016 to 14.8.2017; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Northern Australia served from 22.7.2019 to 31.7.2019; Northern Australia served as Deputy Chair from 1.8.2019 to 25.11.2021; Electoral Matters served from 8.10.2020 to 13.5.2021; Northern Australia served from 26.11.2021 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 13.2.2019 to 25.2.2019; Corporations and Financial Services served as Deputy Chair from 26.2.2019 to 1.7.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 4.7.2019 to 17.3.2021; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 4.7.2019 to 17.3.2021; Economics: Legislation served from 13.5.2021 to 1.6.2022; Economics: References served from 13.5.2021 to 1.6.2022; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 21.10.2021 to 1.6.2022; Environment and Communications: References served from 21.10.2021 to 1.6.2022
• Senate Select: Future of Work and Workers served from 19.10.2017 to 19.9.2018; Fair Dinkum Power served from 5.12.2018 to 5.12.2018; Fair Dinkum Power served as Deputy Chair from 6.12.2018 to 28.6.2019; Jobs for the Future in Regional Areas served from 1.8.2019 to 4.12.2019; Administration of Sports Grants served from 5.2.2020 to 6.2.2020; Administration of Sports Grants served as Chair from 7.2.2020 to 18.3.2021
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Selection of Bills served from 27.7.2022 to present; Procedure served from 28.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.07.2016 to present
• Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 26.7.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1995.
• Organiser of the Australian Labor Party National Secretariat, 2004.
• Organiser for the Australian Labor Party (Qld) from 2004 to 2007.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Qld) from 2008 to 2014.
• Campaign Director of Australian Labor Party (Qld) from 2014 to 2015.

Personal

• Born: 24.2.1978, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Griffith University).
• Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. K Rudd MP, 2007.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Qld) from 2008 to 2014.
• Campaign Director of the Australian Labor Party (Qld) from 2014 to 2015.