Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for North Metropolitan Province, 1983.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Cowan, Western Australia, 1998. Re-elected 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Family and Community Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 19.8.2003
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.3.2002 to 1.12.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan from July to August 2002.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Canada and China from November to December 2002.
• Delegate to the 13th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Vietnam, January 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the USA from June to July 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, October 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Switzerland and Portugal, October 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 03.10.1998 to 17.10.2007
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence from 25.11.2001 to 5.6.2003.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence from 2.7.2003 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Veterans Affairs from 24.6.2005 to 3.12.2007.

Personal

• Born: 18.7.1946, Kalgoorlie, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Officer at the Department of Defence.
• Officer at the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
• Officer at the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for North Metropolitan Province, 1983.
• Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet from 16.3.1987 to 4.8.1987.
• Minister for Sport and Recreation from 16.3.1987 to 19.2.1990.
• Minister for Consumer Affairs from 25.2.1988 to 16.2.1993.
• Minister for Racing and Gaming from 28.2.1989 to 19.2.1990.
• Minister for Youth from 28.2.1989 to 19.2.1990.
• Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for North Metropolitan Region, 1989. Retired with the expiration of term 1997.
• Minister for Police and Emergency Services from 19.2.1990 to 16.2.1993.
• Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Aged from 19.2.1990 to 27.2.1991.
• Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 17.2.1993 to 30.11.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism and Fisheries from 17.2.1993 to 7.2.1994.

Local Government service

• Councillor, Osborne Ward City of Stirling from 1981 to 1984.

Military Service

• Pioneer Platoon, 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam 1968-71.

Electorate

• Name: Cowan
• Location: north of Perth; it includes the centres of Banksia Grove, Girrawheen, Greenwood, Hocking, Kingsley, Koondoola, Landsdale, Mariginiup, Noranda, Pearsall, Sinagra, Wanneroo, Warwick and Woodvale.
• Area: 195 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 85,393 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: retail and service industries with some light industry, market gardens and vineyards.
• Includes: Cowan includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Ballajura, Kingsley and Wanneroo.

Honours

• Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 11.6.2012.