Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Parramatta, New South Wales at by-election 1973, vice the Hon. N Bowen (resigned). Re-elected 1974, 1975. Elected to the House of Representatives for Dundas, New South Wales, 1977, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990. Elected to the House of Representatives for Berowra, New South Wales, 1993, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Australian National University Council from 24.3.1976 to 11.3.1996.
• Member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Council from 28.2.1978 to 21.4.1983.
• Member of the Australian Council for Union Training from 26.2.1981 to 4.2.1983.
• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 24.2.2014 to 9.5.2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Deputy Chair of Committees from 19.9.1985 to 29.8.1989.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs from 11.3.1996 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister for Administrative Services from 25.9.1997 to 9.10.1997.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.
• Cabinet Minister from 21.10.1998 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 30.1.2001 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation from 26.11.2001 to 7.10.2003.
• Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs from 26.11.2001 to 7.10.2003.
• Attorney-General from 7.10.2003 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal Affairs served from 12.3.1974 to 31.3.1976; Road Safety served from 18.7.1974 to 10.11.1977; Aboriginal Affairs served as Chair from 1.4.1976 to 4.2.1983; Members' Interests served from 11.10.1984 to 26.10.1984; Members' Interests served from 23.9.1987 to 8.2.1993; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 8.10.1987 to 1.7.1989; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 2.7.1989 to 19.2.1990; Community Affairs served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Selection served from 22.3.2011 to 5.8.2013; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 23.5.2012 to 5.8.2013; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations and Administration served from 4.12.2013 to 13.5.2015; Selection served from 4.12.2013 to 23.2.2015; House served from 4.12.2013 to 14.9.2015
• Joint Select: Aboriginal Land Rights in the Northern Territory served from 10.12.1976 to 18.8.1977; Family Law Act served as Chair from 12.10.1978 to 28.8.1980; Telecommunications Interception served as Deputy Chair from 19.8.1986 to 20.11.1986; Migration Regulations served from 15.6.1989 to 19.2.1990
• Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 12.5.1983 to 26.10.1984; New Parliament House served from 12.5.1983 to 26.10.1984; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Migration Regulations served from 17.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Migration served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 11.3.2008 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 29.11.1985 to 1.6.1989; Intelligence and Security served as Deputy Chair from 12.3.2008 to 5.8.2013; Intelligence and Security served from 6.8.2013 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 4.3.2015 to 8.5.2016; Corporations and Financial Services served from 4.6.2015 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 22.09.1973 to 09.05.2016
• Shadow Minister for the Australian Capital Territory from 16.3.1983 to 14.12.1984.
• Shadow Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from 14.12.1984 to 9.9.1985.
• Shadow Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs from 12.5.1989 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on Ethnic Affairs from 11.4.1990 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Social Security from 7.4.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 7.4.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Senior Citizens from 31.1.1995 to 11.3.1996.
• Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet from 8.12.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 8.12.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 18.9.2013 to 23.2.2015.

Party positions

• President of the Young Liberals (NSW) from 1971 to 1972.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW) from 1971 to 1974.
• Chair of the National Young Liberal Movement from 1973 to 1974.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1973 to 1974.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1982 to 1986.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW) from 1982 to 1985.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (NSW) from 1994 to 1995.

Other positions

• President of the Amnesty International Parliamentary Group from 1974 to 1978.
• Secretary of the Amnesty International Parliamentary Group from 1990 to 1996.
• Special Envoy on Citizenship and Community Engagement from 28.5.2015.

Personal

• Born: 12.3.1943, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Sydney).
• LLB (University of Sydney).
• Solicitor.

Electorate

• Name: Berowra
• Location: north-western Sydney; it includes the suburbs of Arcadia, Berowra, Brooklyn, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Cowan, Dangar Island, Galston, Glenorie, Maroota, Middle Dural, Mount Kuring-gai, Normanhurst, Pennant Hills, Sackville North, Thornleigh, Westleigh and parts of Asquith, Beecroft, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cattai, Dural, Hornsby, Lower Portland, Maraylya, Mount Colah, West Pennant Hills and Wisemans Ferry.
• Area: 782 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 96,947 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: fishing and oyster farming, retail, service and various small industries including hobby farming, citrus fruit orchards, poultry farming, horticulture and tourism.
• Includes: Berowra includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Castle Hill, Epping, Hawkesbury and Hornsby.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 7.6.2020.

Publications

• The International Training Institute, its role in the aid program, Australian Development Assistance Bureau, Canberra: 1980.
• Democratic governance: improving the institutions of accountability, Australian National University, Canberra: 1999.
• In the footsteps of Menzies: the Liberal Party, law reform and the role of the modern Attorney-General, Sir Robert Menzies Lecture Trust, Melbourne: 2005.