Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Deakin, Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001 and 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 19.2.2002 to 31.8.2004.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 7.2.2006 to 17.10.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Employment, Education and Training served from 30.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 30.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Employment, Education and Workplace Relations served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Environment and Heritage served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Privileges served from 12.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 20.3.2002 to 26.9.2002; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 4.11.2003 to 31.8.2004; Selection served from 17.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served as Chair from 1.12.2004 to 6.2.2007
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served as Chair from 6.2.2007 to 17.10.2007

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the 102nd IPU Conference, Berlin, Germany and bilateral visit to Italy, October 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Syria, Lebanon and Israel, November 2003.
• Official visit to Israel, January 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, June 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Turkey and Ireland, October 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, July 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 24.11.2007

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Surrey Hills Branch (Vic.) from 1985 to 1990.
• President of the Liberal Party Boroondara Branch (Vic.) from 1992 to 1995.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (Vic.) from 1992 to 1995.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Kooyong Federal Electorate Conference (Vic.) from 1992 to 1995.
• Member of the Development (Policy Assembly) Committee (Vic.) from 1993 to 1995.
• Federal Parliamentary Delegate to the Policy Assembly (Vic.) from 1997.

Personal

• Born: 8.8.1955, Patti, Italy
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Australian National University).
• GradDipAppSocPsych (Swinburne Institute of Technology).
• Senior Training Officer at Victorian Railways from 1979 to 1980.
• Human resources and industrial relations management from 1980 to 1986.
• Personnel and industrial relations manager from 1986 to 1989.
• Principal consultant from 1989 to 1996.

Electorate

• Name: Deakin
• Location: eastern Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Bayswater North, Blackburn, Blackburn North, Blackburn South, Burwood East, Croydon, Croydon South, Forest Hill, Heathmont, Mitcham, Nunawading, Ringwood, Ringwood East, Ringwood North and Vermont.
• Area: 61 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 87,436 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: light manufacturing, commercial and retail industries.
• Includes: Deakin includes parts of the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorates of Bayswater, Forest Hill, Kilsyth, Mitcham and Warrandyte.