Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck

Contact details

Biography

In this section:

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Parliamentary service

• Appointed by the Governor of Tasmania on 4.2.2002 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. JM Newman (resigned) (term ended 30.6.2002). Elected 2001 (term began 1.7.2002) and 2007.

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Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 26.10.04 to 27.1.06.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration from 27.1.06 to 3.12.07.

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Committee service

• Senate Standing: House from 19.3.02 to 15.11.04; Publications from 1.7.02 to 15.11.04; Regulations and Ordinances from 16.3.12.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation Committee from 25.3.02 to 15.11.04.
• Senate Select: Housing Affordability in Australia from 14.2.08 to 16.6.08; Climate Policy from 17.3.09 to 15.6.09; Australia's Food Processing Sector from 16.6.11.
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit from 14.2.02 to 25.3.03; Public Works from 22.8.02 to 31.8.04.
• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories from 19.3.02 to 1.7.02.

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Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, October-November 2002.
• Official visit to Japan, July 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Egypt and Israel, October-November 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, June 2011.

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Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 6.12.07 to 22.9.08; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 22.9.08 to 14.9.10; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry from 14.9.10; Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Industry and Science from 14.9.10.

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Party positions

• Member, Liberal Party from 1990.
• Delegate, Liberal Party State Council from 1991.
• Member, Liberal Party State Executive (Tas) from 1992.
• Member, Liberal Party State Policy Advisory Committee (Tas) 1993-97.
• Member, Liberal Party Federal Executive 2000-02.
• State President, Liberal Party (Tas) 2000-2002.

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Personal

• Born 5.4.1958, Myrtleford, Vic.
• Married.

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Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Small Business Management Certificate; Certificate in Technology (Building); Carpentry and Joinery Trade and Proficiency Certificates (Devonport Technical College).
• Apprentice, carpentry and joinery 1977-79; trainee estimator and supervisor 1977-79; manager 1979-84.
• Building estimator and supervisor 1984-89.
• Managing director and proprietor of building consultancy from 1989.
• Director, Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 1998-2001.

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Local government service

• President, Devonport Chamber of Commerce 1993-96 and 1998-2000.
• Alderman, Devonport City Council 1999-2002.

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