Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange, 2011. Resigned 30.5.2016 to contest the House of Representatives division of Calare, New South Wales.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Calare, New South Wales, 2016. Re-elected 2019 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 26.3.2018 to 29.1.2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 25.1.2019 to 6.2.2020.
• Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education from 6.2.2020 to 2.7.2021.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment from 6.2.2020 to 2.7.2021.
• Minister for Defence Personnel from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Procedure served from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Infrastructure, Transport and Cities served from 15.6.2017 to 25.1.2019; Environment and Energy served as Chair from 11.9.2018 to 25.1.2019; Environment and Energy served from 26.1.2019 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Select: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum served from 30.3.2023 to 12.5.2023
• Joint Standing: Trade and Investment Growth served from 1.8.2022 to 14.2.2023
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.9.2016 to 1.7.2019

Parliamentary party positions

• Independent. Served: 23.12.2022 to present
• The Nationals. Served: 02.07.2016 to 23.12.2022
• Shadow Minister for Regional Education from 5.6.2022 to 23.12.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Health from 5.6.2022 to 23.12.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories from 5.6.2022 to 23.12.2022.

Other positions

• 'ChuckAkubra' Champion, 2012.
• 'ChuckAkubra' Champion, 2014.

Personal

• Born: 13.9.1968, Wagga Wagga, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEc(Hons) (University of Sydney).
• LLB (University of Sydney).
• Barrister from 2003 to 2011.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange, 2011. Resigned 30.5.2016 to contest the House of Representatives division of Calare, New South Wales.
• Parliamentary Secretary for the Deputy Premier and Regional Roads from 24.4.2015 to 4.5.2016.

Electorate

• Name: Calare
• Location: Calare covers an area from Lithgow in the east to Eugowra in the west, Wellington and Mid-Western Regional Councils in the north to Blayney Shire Council and Oberon Council in the south. The main cities and towns include Bathurst, Blayney, Canowindra, Eugowra, Gulgong, Kandos, Lithgow, Molong, Oberon, Orange, Mudgee, Portland, Rylstone, Wallerawang and Yeoval.
• Area: 32,666 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 118,099 (at 7.6.2019)
• Industries: Mining, mixed farming, fruit, timber, vineyards, meat and wool processing, transport, tourism, light engineering, white goods manufacturing, tertiary education services, agricultural and pastoral support.