Biography

Parliamentary service

• Territory: Opposition Whip.
• Federal: Chosen by the Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory on 18.2.2003 under section 44 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 to represent that Territory in the Senate, vice the Hon. M Reid (resigned). Re-elected 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 1.7.2011 to 6.9.2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.6.2008 to 2.2.2010.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 14.2.2008 to 7.9.2009; National Capital and External Territories served from 27.10.2009 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 1.7.2011 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 25.3.2003 to 17.10.2007; Human Rights served from 16.3.2012 to 29.10.2012
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 20.3.2003 to 30.6.2005; Community Affairs: References served from 20.3.2003 to 10.9.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 5.9.2003 to 5.9.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.2004 to 16.2.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.2.2005 to 15.2.2005; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 1.7.2005 to 9.9.2006; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 10.9.2006 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served as Chair from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Community Affairs served from 12.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 13.2.2009 to 29.4.2009; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 2.2.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 2.2.2010; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.7.2011 to 5.7.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2011 to 6.9.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 6.7.2011 to 2.11.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 3.11.2011 to 6.9.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 17.2.2012 to 17.2.2012; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 23.3.2012 to 29.6.2012
• Senate Select: Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004; Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters served from 24.6.2003 to 31.3.2004; Mental Health served from 10.3.2005 to 28.4.2006
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 20.3.2003 to 11.2.2008; Senators' Interests served from 20.3.2003 to 6.9.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2011 to 6.9.2013; Privileges served as Chair from 19.3.2012 to 6.9.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, April 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Rwanda and Tanzania, September-October 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia and Tonga, September-October 2011.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 18.02.2003 to 06.09.2013
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families, Housing and Human Services from 8.12.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship from 8.12.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 14.9.2010 to 6.9.2013.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel from 14.9.2010 to 6.9.2013.

Party positions

• President of the Liberal Party (ACT) from 1987 to 1989.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1987 to 1989.

Personal

• Born: 6.7.1958, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Australian National University).
• LLB (Australian National University).
• Solicitor from 1983 to 1987.
• Legal Officer (ACT) from 1987 to 1988.
• Private Secretary to Senator A Vanstone from 1988 to 1989.

State/Territory Government service

• Opposition Whip.
• Manager of Opposition Business.
• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry.
• Shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
• Shadow Minister for Legal and Consumer Affairs.
• Shadow Minister for Electoral Matters.
• Shadow Minister for the Arts and the Family.
• Shadow Attorney-General.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 1989 to 1993.
• Elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1989. Resigned 24.1.2003 to become Senator for the Australian Capital Territory.
• Minister for Health, Education and the Arts from 1989 to 1991.
• Leader of the Opposition from 21.6.1991 to 22.7.1991.
• Minister for Arts and Heritage from 1995 to 1998.
• Minister for Environment, Land and Planning from 1995 to 1998.
• Minister for Police and Emergency Services from 1995 to 1998.
• Minister for Fair Trading from 1995 to 1998.
• Attorney-General from 1995 to 2000.
• Deputy Chief Minister from 1997 to 2000.
• Minister for Health and Community Care, 1998.
• Minister Assisting the Treasurer from 1998 to 1999.
• Treasurer from 1999 to 2001.
• Chief Minister from 18.10.2000 to 12.11.2001.
• Leader of the Opposition from 12.11.2001 to 25.11.2002.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2019.