Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 1984. Re-elected 1987, 1993, 1998 and 2004. Resigned 26.4.2007.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.2.1991 to 5.5.1993.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs from 11.3.1996 to 9.10.1997.
• Cabinet Minister from 11.3.1996 to 9.10.1997.
• Minister for Justice from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Minister for Justice and Customs from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister for Family and Community Services from 30.1.2001 to 7.10.2003.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from 30.1.2001 to 7.10.2003.
• Cabinet Minister from 30.1.2001 to 30.1.2007.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation from 7.10.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs from 7.10.2003 to 27.1.2006.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs from 26.10.2004 to 27.1.2006.
• Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs from 27.1.2006 to 30.1.2007.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: New Parliament House served from 30.10.1989 to 19.2.1990
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 14.5.1990 to 2.6.1994; National Crime Authority served from 16.5.1990 to 17.5.1993; National Crime Authority served as Deputy Chair from 18.5.1993 to 29.1.1996
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group F served from 26.3.1985 to 24.3.1987; Estimates Group E served from 24.3.1987 to 5.6.1987; Estimates Group F served from 24.9.1987 to 29.9.1988; Estimates Group E served from 9.5.1990 to 3.5.1993; Estimates Group F served as Substitute member from 19.8.1993 to 7.2.1994; Estimates Group F served from 8.2.1994 to 12.5.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Government Operations served from 26.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 11.5.1990 to 9.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996
• Senate Select: Sales Tax Legislation served from 25.6.1992 to 19.8.1992; Community Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising Electronic Technologies served as Substitute member from 21.9.1994 to 29.11.1994
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 26.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Standing Orders served from 12.2.1986 to 5.6.1987; Parliamentary Library served from 6.9.1989 to 11.9.1990; Scrutiny of Bills served from 11.5.1990 to 22.9.1994

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended official meetings in Malaysia, Indonesia and India, October 1996.
• Attended official meetings in Hong Kong and South Korea, September 1997.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, June 1998.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, November 1998.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, UK and USA, from March to April 1999.
• Attended official meetings in East Timor, December 1999.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland, Italy, Thailand and Laos, January 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Switzerland and Italy, March 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and UK, April 2000.
• Attended official meetings in France and Switzerland, June 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Norway, the Netherlands and Italy, November 2000.
• Attended official meetings in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia from April to May 2002.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, Mexico, UK, Ireland and France, from September to October 2002.
• Attended official meetings in China and Vietnam, January 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, March 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, China and Vietnam from April to May 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Papua New Guinea, December 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Hong Kong, Italy Switzerland, UK and China, 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia from February to March 2005.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and Canada from April to May 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, March 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand and Indonesia, June 2006.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, July 2006.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, September 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.12.1984 to 26.04.2007
• Shadow Special Minister of State from 14.8.1987 to 16.9.1988.
• Shadow Minister for the Status of Women from 14.8.1987 to 16.9.1988.
• Shadow Minister for the Australian Capital Territory from 16.9.1987 to 16.9.1988.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 12.5.1989 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 12.5.1989 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Attorney-General from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Justice from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.

Party positions

• Chair of the Liberal Party Women's Council (SA) from 1979 to 1982.
• Coordinator of the Liberal Party Policy Committee (SA) from 1982 to 1984.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1983 to 1983.

Personal

• Born: 7.12.1952, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Solicitor.
• Retailer, wholesaler.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2020.

Publications

• Unparliamentary language, reflections and imputations, terms and phrases, Amanda Vanstone, Canberra: 1989.
• Australian women: perspectives, Amanda Vanstone, Canberra: 1990.
• Create to compete: developing new directions for Australian industry policy, Amanda Vanstone, Canberra: 1993.