Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Macarthur, New South Wales, 2001. Re-elected 2004 and 2007. Retired prior to general elections 2010.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Science and Training from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Education and Training served from 26.9.2002 to 31.8.2004; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 4.11.2003 to 31.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 10.2.2010 to 19.7.2010

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, March 2003.
• Official visit to Malaysia, August 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 10.11.2001 to 19.07.2010
• Shadow Minister for Youth and Sport from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.

Personal

• Born: 14.3.1962, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Automotive Engineering.
• Motor mechanic from 1977 to 1984.
• Landscape gardener from 1984 to 2000.
• Athlete from 1984 to 2000.
• Motivational speaker from 1984 to 2001.

Electorate

• Name: Macarthur
• Location: south-western outskirts of Sydney; it includes the centres of Appin, Camden, Cobbitty, Currans Hill, Douglas Park, Glen Alpine, Harrington Park, Kentlyn, Maldon, Menangle Park, Mount Annan, Nattai, Narellan, St Helens Park, Wedderburn, Werombi, Wilton, and parts of Bringelly, Campbelltown, Leumeah, Mowbray Park, Picton and Rossmore.
• Area: 1,300 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 84,652 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: small businesses, light industry and commercial activities, fruit, vegetables, fodder crops, wine, horse-breeding/agistment and tourism.
• Includes: Macarthur includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Camden, Campbelltown and Southern Highlands.

Honours

• Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 8.6.2015.

Publications

• Pole to pole: one man, 20 million steps, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW: 2012.