Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 1980. Re-elected 1983, 1984, 1987, 1993 and 1998. Retired with the expiration of term 2005.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 16.9.2002 to 30.6.2005.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Consumer Affairs from 15.2.1988 to 4.4.1990.
• Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices from 15.2.1988 to 4.4.1990.
• Minister for Administrative Services from 4.4.1990 to 24.3.1993.
• Cabinet Minister from 4.4.1990 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from 24.3.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 24.3.1993 to 11.3.1996.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Republic Referendum served from 21.6.1999 to 9.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs and Defence served from 28.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 9.10.1987 to 24.2.1988; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 31.5.1996 to 29.5.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served from 28.2.1985 to 15.2.1988; National Crime Authority served from 31.5.1996 to 6.11.1996; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served as Deputy Chair from 28.8.1997 to 13.5.1998
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group A served from 26.8.1981 to 4.2.1983; Estimates Group E served from 24.9.1987 to 18.3.1988
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Constitutional and Legal Affairs served from 25.8.1981 to 9.9.1981; Foreign Affairs and Defence served from 9.9.1981 to 1.7.1985; Constitutional and Legal Affairs served from 21.4.1983 to 18.3.1987; Constitutional and Legal Affairs served as Chair from 19.3.1987 to 5.6.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 24.9.1987 to 5.10.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Chair from 6.10.1987 to 24.2.1988; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.4.1999 to 12.8.1999; Economics: References served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005
• Senate Select: Industrial Relations Legislation served from 22.9.1982 to 26.10.1982; Conduct of a Judge served from 30.3.1984 to 24.8.1984; Allegations Concerning a Judge served from 10.9.1984 to 21.2.1985
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 25.8.1981 to 15.6.1984; Scrutiny of Bills served from 8.12.1982 to 20.2.1985; Disputed Returns and Qualifications served from 4.5.1983 to 5.6.1987; Privileges served from 29.5.1985 to 5.6.1987; Senators' Interests served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Senators' Interests served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2002; Appropriations and Staffing served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Scandinavia from May to June 1982.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Western Europe, Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus from October to November 1983.
• Delegate to the President's inauguration, Nicaragua, January 1985.
• Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Brisbane, July 1985.
• Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, the USA from September to December 1986.
• Delegate to the 27th South Pacific Conference, Noumea, October 1987.
• Attended official meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu from September to October 1988.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, November 1988.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand from June to July 1990.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, the USA, USSR and France from September to October 1990.
• Attended official meetings in Greece and Crete, May 1991.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, China and Thailand from September to October 1991.
• Attended official meetings in Cambodia, the UK, Sweden, Czech Republic and Germany from July to August 1992.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Hong Kong and the USA, June 1993.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland, Germany, Greece and Turkey, September 1993.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Singapore, April 1994.
• Attended official meetings in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, September 1994.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and South Korea from March to April 1995.
• Attended official meetings in Lebanon, Italy, Malta and Greece from July to August 1995.
• Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
• Attended official meetings in Canada and the USA from October to November 1999.
• Delegate to the 6th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Netherlands, November 2000.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Japan and South Korea, December 2003.
• Parliamentary delegation member to China and Mongolia, April 2005.
• Parliamentary delegation member to New Zealand, May 2005.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1981 to 30.06.2005
• Shadow Attorney-General from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Justice from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1950, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Adelaide).
• Lawyer and research officer.