Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Ballarat, Victoria, 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing from 14.9.2010 to 25.3.2013.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport from 14.9.2010 to 25.3.2013.
• Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister for Road Safety from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022.
• Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government from 1.6.2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Health and Ageing served from 2.12.2004 to 19.7.2010; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 20.3.2002 to 19.7.2010

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 26.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury from 24.6.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Health from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Economics Caucus Committee.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Status of Women Caucus Committee.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Urban, Regional and Rural Development Caucus Committee from 2002 to 2004.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1993.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Health and Community Services Policy Committee from 1998 to 2000.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Port Melbourne Branch (Vic.) from 1998 to 1999.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Ballarat East Branch (Vic.) from 2000.

Personal

• Born: 2.6.1966, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MA(PubPol) (Australian National University).
• BA(SocWk) (Phillip Institute of Technology).
• Assistant Director, National Public Health Partnership.
• Social worker at the Children's Homes and Family Services, Ballarat (Vic.) from 1988 to 1992.
• Research officer to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, 1993.
• Industry policy officer for the Australia New Zealand Food Authority from 1993 to 1994.
• Assistant Director of Population Health Division at the Department of Health and Aged Care from 1997 to 1998.
• Director of Injury Prevention in the Population Health Division at the Department of Health and Aged Care from 1998 to 1999.
• Senior Manager at KPMG Consulting from 1999 to 2001.

Electorate

• Name: Ballarat
• Location: The Division of Ballarat consists of: Ballarat City Council, Hepburn Shire Council, and Moorabool Shire Council.
• Area: 4,322 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 114,954 (at 7.6.2019)
• Industries: Agriculture and farming including beef cattle, sheep, fruit and vegetable production, gold mining, education and training, professional, scientific and technical services, health care, tourism and retail.

Honours

• Awarded Young Achiever of the Year for Community Service (Vic.), 1991.