Former Senator Mal Colston

Former Senator Mal Colston

Former Senator

Party
UNKNOWN
Chamber
Senate

Biography

Parliamentary service
  • Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1975. Re-elected 1977, 1983, 1987 and 1993. Retired with the expiration of term 1999.
Parliamentary appointments
  • Member of the Australian National University Council from 18.7.1986 to 31.12.1991.
  • Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 22.9.1987 to 26.3.1997.
  • Member of the Australian National University Council from 11.3.1992 to 10.3.1996.
  • Member of the Australian National University Council from 17.7.1996 to 14.3.1997.
Parliamentary positions
  • Temporary Chair of Committees from 22.8.1978 to 21.8.1990.
  • Deputy President of the Senate from 21.8.1990 to 16.8.1993.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 13.9.1990 to 25.9.1990.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 15.3.1991 to 5.4.1991.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 18.7.1991 to 21.7.1991.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 26.7.1991 to 2.8.1991.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 17.10.1991 to 6.11.1991.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 3.1.1992 to 24.1.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 7.3.1992 to 13.3.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 13.4.1992 to 2.5.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 17.9.1992 to 17.9.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 3.10.1992 to 10.10.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 20.10.1992 to 4.11.1992.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 12.1.1993 to 16.1.1993.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 17.4.1993 to 30.4.1993.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 25.7.1993 to 4.8.1993.
  • Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.8.1993 to 20.8.1996.
  • Deputy President of the Senate from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997.
  • Chairman of Committees from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 20.9.1996 to 6.10.1996.
  • Acting President of the Senate from 1.4.1997 to 6.5.1997.
Committee service
  • Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 22.8.1978 to 19.9.1980; New Parliament House served from 1.7.1981 to 19.2.1990; Australian Capital Territory served from 9.9.1981 to 4.2.1983; Parliamentary Zone served from 12.11.1991 to 8.2.1993; National Capital and External Territories served from 20.5.1993 to 16.8.1993; National Capital and External Territories served from 19.8.1993 to 6.5.1997
  • Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 4.3.1976 to 17.8.1978; Public Accounts served from 1.7.1993 to 29.1.1996
  • Senate Estimates: Estimates Group D served from 29.4.1976 to 26.8.1976; Estimates Group C served from 26.8.1976 to 20.2.1978; Estimates Group B served from 16.3.1978 to 20.9.1978; Estimates Group A served from 20.9.1978 to 2.4.1981; Estimates Group G served from 2.4.1981 to 26.8.1981; Estimates Group B served from 26.8.1981 to 4.2.1983; Estimates Group D served from 4.5.1983 to 11.5.1983; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 12.5.1983 to 16.4.1985; Estimates Group E served from 16.4.1985 to 17.4.1985; Estimates Group E served as Chair from 18.4.1985 to 22.8.1985; Estimates Group D served from 22.8.1985 to 11.9.1985; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 12.9.1985 to 20.3.1986; Estimates Group D served from 24.9.1987 to 7.10.1987; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 8.10.1987 to 29.9.1988; Estimates Group F served as Chair from 29.9.1988 to 7.5.1990; Estimates Group E served from 9.5.1990 to 14.5.1990; Estimates Group E served as Chair from 15.5.1990 to 24.8.1990; Estimates Group D served from 1.7.1993 to 7.11.1993; Estimates Group D served from 15.11.1993 to 8.2.1994; Estimates Group F served from 8.2.1994 to 9.2.1994; Estimates Group F served as Chair from 10.2.1994 to 9.10.1994
  • Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Science and the Environment served from 5.5.1976 to 17.8.1978; Education and the Arts served from 17.8.1978 to 27.8.1981; Education and the Arts served from 21.4.1983 to 21.4.1983; Education and the Arts served as Chair from 22.4.1983 to 5.6.1987; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 1.12.1988 to 7.5.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 11.5.1990 to 30.6.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served as Chair from 1.7.1990 to 23.8.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 24.8.1990 to 24.8.1990; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 2.5.1996 to 17.10.1996; Community Affairs: References served from 8.5.1996 to 10.9.1996
  • Senate Select: Education of Gifted and Talented Children served as Chair from 22.9.1987 to 18.5.1988; Legislation Procedures served as Chair from 31.8.1988 to 1.12.1988; Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Australia served from 3.11.1988 to 29.11.1988; Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Australia served as Chair from 30.11.1988 to 23.8.1990
  • Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 19.5.1976 to 14.4.1986; Regulations and Ordinances served from 4.12.1980 to 27.8.1981; Disputed Returns and Qualifications served from 4.5.1983 to 5.6.1987; Publications served from 4.5.1983 to 11.9.1985; Appropriations and Staffing served from 11.5.1990 to 29.4.1996; Regulations and Ordinances served from 11.5.1990 to 13.5.1990; House served from 11.5.1990 to 9.10.1994; Procedure served from 11.5.1990 to 3.5.1993; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 14.5.1990 to 17.10.1990; Regulations and Ordinances served from 18.10.1990 to 29.9.1993; Scrutiny of Bills served from 17.8.1993 to 17.8.1993; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 18.8.1993 to 10.10.1994; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 30.9.1993 to 29.4.1996; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 24.3.1994 to 9.10.1994; Senators' Interests served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; House served as Chair from 10.10.1994 to 1.12.1994; Scrutiny of Bills served from 11.10.1994 to 8.5.1996; Regulations and Ordinances served from 30.4.1996 to 9.11.1998; Publications served from 2.5.1996 to 12.3.1998; House served from 2.5.1996 to 19.8.1996; House served as Chair from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997; Procedure served as Chair from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997
Conferences, delegations and visits
  • Delegate to the 23rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Canada, September 1977.
  • Parliamentary delegation member to Japan, July 1978.
  • Attended study tour in New Zealand from December 1979 to January 1980.
  • Parliamentary delegation member to North America and Mexico, July 1980.
  • Attended study tour in the UK, July 1980.
  • Attended study tour in Fiji, November 1980.
  • Attended study tour in the USA, July 1982.
  • Attended study tour in the UK, Belgium, Germany and Denmark, June 1984.
  • Attended overseas study tour in France and Singapore, July 1984.
  • Delegate to the 7th Australasian and Pacific Regional Parliamentary Seminar, Canberra and Tonga, October 1984.
  • Delegate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union 10+ Meeting, Spain, March 1985.
  • Delegate to the 73rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Togo, March 1985.
  • Attended study tour in the USA, August 1985.
  • Attended study tour in the UK, September 1985.
  • Delegate to the 74th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Canada, September 1985.
  • Delegate to the 75th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Mexico, April 1986.
  • Attended study tour in the USA, June 1986.
  • Delegate to the 76th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Argentina, October 1986.
  • Delegate to the Inter-Parliamentary Union 12+ Meeting, West Germany, April 1987.
  • Delegate to the 77th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Nicaragua from April to May 1987.
  • Delegate to the 9th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation meeting, Kuala Lumpur, January 1988.
  • Parliamentary delegation leader to the Middle East, June 1988.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand from June to July 1988.
  • Delegate to the 20th Presiding Officers and Clerks Regional Conference, Western Samoa, June 1989.
  • Parliamentary delegation leader to South Pacific, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Western Samoa from July to August 1989.
  • Attended study tour in Tahiti from January to February 1990.
  • Parliamentary delegation leader to Turkey from April to May 1990.
  • Parliamentary delegation leader to the UK and Austria from June to July 1991.
  • Attended study tour in Ireland, June 1991.
  • Attended study tour in Singapore, July 1991.
  • Delegate to the 22nd Presiding Officers and Clerks Regional Conference, Solomon Islands, July 1991.
  • Attended study tour in New Zealand, February 1992.
  • Delegate to the 23rd Presiding Officers and Clerks Regional Conference, Adelaide, June 1992.
  • Attended official meetings in Thailand and Papua New Guinea from September to October 1992.
  • Delegate to the 13th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation General Assembly, Indonesia from September to October 1992.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand, November 1992.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand, April 1993.
  • Delegate to the 89th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, India, April 1993.
  • Attended study tour in Japan, December 1993.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand, July 1994.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand, January 1995.
  • Attended study tour in the UK, 1995.
  • Parliamentary delegation member to the USA and Canada from March to April 1995.
  • Attended study tour in Thailand, April 1995.
Parliamentary party positions
  • Australian Labor Party. Served: 13.12.1975 to 20.08.1996
  • Independent. Served: 20.08.1996 to 30.06.1999
Party positions
  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Central Executive (Qld.) from 1971 to 1978.
  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (Qld) from 1983 to 1996.
Personal
  • Born: 5.4.1938, Brisbane, Australia
  • Died: 23.8.2003
  • Gender: Male
  • Marital Status: Married
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
  • AEd ().
  • MAPS (Australian Psychological Society).
  • BA ().
  • BEd(Hons) (University of Queensland).
  • PhD (University of Queensland).
  • Teacher.
  • Research officer.
  • Psychological consultant.
Military Service
  • Member of the Army reserve from 1964 to 1979.
  • Army reserve full-time duty, New Guinea from 1966 to 1967.
  • Rank of Major, from 1970 to 1979.
  • Granted military title of Major, 1993.
Publications
  • The odd one out: an account of the 1974 Senate elections in Queensland, Colonial Press, Brisbane: 1975.

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