Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for East Metropolitan Region, 2001. Resigned 29.10.2007 to contest election to the Senate for Western Australia.
• Federal: Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2007. Defeated at general elections 2013. Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2016. Re-elected 2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 28.9.2010 to 30.6.2014.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.7.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 30.9.2010 to 24.6.2013; Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation served from 14.9.2011 to 7.10.2011; Gambling Reform served from 21.6.2012 to 24.6.2013; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 8.10.2020 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2008 to 1.7.2011; National Capital and External Territories served as Chair from 30.9.2010 to 5.8.2013; Migration served from 4.7.2024 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 27.6.2012 to 5.8.2013; Corporations and Financial Services served from 4.7.2019 to present; Human Rights served from 1.12.2021 to 11.4.2022; Public Works served from 4.7.2024 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Economics: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 1.7.2011; Economics: References served from 14.5.2009 to 1.7.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.10.2012 to 18.10.2012; Economics: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Economics: References served from 12.11.2013 to 19.3.2014; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Environment and Communications: References served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Economics: References served from 24.3.2014 to 30.6.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 16.2.2017 to 6.3.2017; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 2.7.2019; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Education and Employment: References served from 2.7.2019 to 2.7.2019; Education and Employment: References served as Chair from 3.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 3.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 1.9.2021 to 25.7.2022; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.2021 to 4.2.2022; Community Affairs: References served from 28.7.2022 to present; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to present; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to 1.8.2022; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 28.7.2022 to 1.8.2022; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Deputy Chair from 2.8.2022 to present; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Chair from 2.8.2022 to present
• Senate Select: Climate Policy served from 18.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Cyber-Safety served from 28.6.2013 to 30.8.2013; Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill served from 1.12.2016 to 15.2.2017; Supermarket Prices served from 26.2.2024 to present; PFAS served from 22.8.2024 to present
• Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 1.7.2008 to 1.7.2011; Scrutiny of Bills served from 13.5.2010 to 1.7.2011; Regulations and Ordinances served from 21.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served from 28.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to 30.06.2014, 02.07.2016 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Water from 18.10.2013 to 24.6.2014.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Families and Communities from 23.7.2016 to 21.8.2018.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Universities from 21.8.2018 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Equality from 18.2.2019 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Employment Services from 10.2.2020 to 28.1.2021.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Employment and Skills from 28.1.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Status of Women Caucus Committee from 2012 to 2014.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 31.5.2022 to 6.3.2024.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (WA).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (WA).
• Secretary of Labor Women (WA) from 1995 to 1996.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (WA) from 2001 to 2005.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2014.
• Convenor of the Rainbow Labor National Committee from 2014 to 2016.

Personal

• Born: 18.4.1972, Kalgoorlie, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Partner

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Western Australia).
• Community services manager, 2008.
• Communications and Engagement Manager at Shelter WA from 2015 to 2016.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for East Metropolitan Region, 2001. Resigned 29.10.2007 to contest election to the Senate for Western Australia.
• Secretary to Caucus from 31.7.2001 to 20.6.2005.
• Deputy Chair of Committees from 24.5.2005 to 29.10.2007.