Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1983. Re-elected 1984, 1987, 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007. Retired with the expiration of term 2014.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Council from 19.9.1989 to 5.3.1990.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services from 20.7.1999 to 7.10.2003.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Retailing Sector served from 10.12.1998 to 30.8.1999; Republic Referendum served from 21.6.1999 to 9.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 30.6.1999 to 7.9.2000; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 2.12.2013 to 30.6.2014
• Joint Statutory: Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 30.6.1999 to 11.5.2000
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group C served from 4.5.1983 to 5.6.1987; Estimates Group D served from 6.9.1989 to 24.8.1990; Estimates Group D served as Substitute member from 24.8.1990 to 15.4.1991
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: National Resources served from 21.4.1983 to 5.6.1987; Foreign Affairs and Defence served from 1.7.1985 to 5.6.1987; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 24.9.1987 to 11.9.1990; Industry, Science and Technology served from 17.9.1990 to 3.5.1993; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.6.1996 to 21.6.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 24.6.1996 to 25.6.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 28.6.1996 to 15.10.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.9.1996 to 20.9.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.11.1996 to 28.11.1996; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.4.1998 to 29.4.1998; Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 15.10.2008 to 13.5.2009; Environment, Communications and the Arts: References served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment and Communications: References served from 30.9.2010 to 11.9.2012; Environment and Communications: References served from 20.9.2012 to 11.11.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 20.9.2012 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.11.2012 to 22.11.2012; Community Affairs: References served from 22.11.2012 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 3.3.2014
• Senate Select: Administration of Aboriginal Affairs served from 2.6.1988 to 28.2.1989; Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served from 12.2.2004 to 5.8.2004; Climate Policy served from 17.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Scrutiny of New Taxes served from 23.9.2011 to 24.9.2011
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 2.5.1996 to 1.7.2002; Appropriations and Staffing served from 2.5.1996 to 11.2.2008; Parliamentary Library served from 13.11.2013 to 1.12.2013; Regulations and Ordinances served from 13.11.2013 to 30.6.2014

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Delegate, 27th South Pacific Conference, Noumea, October 1987.
• Parliamentary Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
• Official visits to Taiwan, November 1999.
• Official visits to Taiwan, November 2001.
• Official visits to New Zealand, August 2002.
• Official visits to USA, October-November 2002.
• Official visits to Taiwan, October 2003.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 30.06.2014
• National Party of Australia. Served: 05.03.1983 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development and External Territories from 16.9.1988 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Northern Australia and External Territories from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 7.4.1993 to 9.12.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 26.5.1994 to 9.12.1994.
• National Party Spokesman on Small Business from 30.4.1987 to 6.8.1987.
• Leader of the National Party in the Senate from 10.4.1990 to 11.10.2003.
• Leader of the Nationals in the Senate from 11.10.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 27.6.2008.

Party positions

• Chair of the National Party Wynnum Branch (Qld), 1974.
• Vice President of the National Party Metropolitan Zone (Qld) from 1976 to 1983.
• Member of the National Party Management Committee (Qld) from 1976 to 1983.
• Central Councillor of the National Party from 1976.

Personal

• Born: 9.12.1940, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Manufacturer's agent.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 7.6.2020.

Publications

• Ron Boswell: not pretty, but pretty effective, Connor Court Publishing, Redland Bay, Qld, .