Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2004. Re-elected 2010, 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 28.9.2010 to 11.11.2013.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 25.11.2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Australia's Family Law System served from 15.10.2019 to 22.11.2021
• Joint Standing: Migration served from 6.12.2006 to 6.12.2006; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 7.12.2006 to 17.10.2007; Migration served from 18.10.2007 to 1.7.2008; Electoral Matters served from 30.9.2010 to 5.8.2013; National Capital and External Territories served from 28.7.2022 to present; Trade and Investment Growth served from 28.7.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission served from 1.7.2005 to 25.11.2010; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 5.8.2013; Law Enforcement served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Law Enforcement served from 28.7.2022 to 3.8.2022; Law Enforcement served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to present; Parliamentary Standards served from 10.10.2024 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 1.7.2008; Finance and Public Administration served from 12.2.2008 to 12.2.2008; Finance and Public Administration served as Chair from 13.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.6.2009 to 16.11.2009; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.2012 to 4.9.2012; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 3.12.2015 to 9.5.2016; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 15.9.2016 to 20.6.2017; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 16.8.2017 to 3.4.2019; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 5.12.2019 to 25.7.2022; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to present; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 28.7.2022 to 29.2.2024; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to 1.8.2022
• Senate Select: State Government Financial Management served from 14.2.2008 to 18.9.2008
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2005 to 11.2.2008; Publications served from 1.7.2005 to 28.2.2007; Scrutiny of Bills served from 12.11.2013 to 10.2.2014; Procedure served from 12.11.2013 to 11.2.2014; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 11.2.2014 to 9.5.2016; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Publications served from 2.7.2019 to present; Privileges served from 28.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2005 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Ageing from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania) from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 27.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Tas.) from 1984.
• President of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.) from 1992 to 1995.

Personal

• Born: 9.2.1957, Ulverstone, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipBusAdmin (Launceston Business College).
• Adviser to the Premier, the Hon. J Bacon, MHA (Tas.) from 1998 to 2004.
• Adviser to the Premier, the Hon. P Lennon, MHA (Tas.), 2004.