Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Fisher, Queensland, 1984. Defeated at general elections 1987. Elected to the House of Representatives for Fisher, Queensland, 1993. Re-elected 1996 and 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Defeated at general elections 2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010.
• Deputy Speaker from 28.9.2010 to 24.11.2011.
• Speaker of the House of Representatives from 24.11.2011 to 9.10.2012.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration from 21.10.1998 to 26.10.2004.

Acting Ministries

• Acting Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister from 14.3.2002 to 7.10.2003.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Expenditure served from 28.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Publications served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Family and Community Affairs served as Chair from 29.5.1996 to 3.9.1997; Selection served from 27.8.1997 to 31.8.1998; Family and Community Affairs served from 4.9.1997 to 27.11.1997; Privileges served from 22.10.1997 to 31.8.1998; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Chair from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Selection served as Chair from 24.11.2011 to 9.10.2012; House served as Chair from 24.11.2011 to 9.10.2012; Appropriations and Administration served as Chair from 24.11.2011 to 9.10.2012
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 18.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; National Capital and External Territories served from 28.9.2010 to 24.11.2011; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.11.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 1.12.2004 to 23.3.2006; Public Works served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served as Chair from 24.11.2011 to 9.10.2012

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Official Delegation to 15th AIPO General Assembly and bilateral visits, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, September-October 1994.
• Member, 98th IPU Conference, Cairo, and bilateral visit to Kuwait, September 1997.
• Member, 13th CPA Australian and Pacific Regional Seminar, Kiribati, July 1998.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to China and bilateral visit to Mongolia, April 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, June 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to 26th AIPO General Assembly, Laos, and bilateral visit to Pakistan, September 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Malaysia and Japan, April 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji, April-May 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Philippines and Indonesia, September 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Saudi Arabia and China, June-July 2007.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Egypt and Israel, October-November 2008.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Solomon Islands and Samoa, July-August 2011.
• Official visits to South Africa, Uganda, UK, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Hungary and USA, March-April 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Independent. Served: 24.11.2011 to 07.09.2013
• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1993 to 24.11.2011
• National Party of Australia. Served: 01.12.1984 to 11.07.1987
• National Party Spokesman on Science from 30.4.1987 to 6.8.1987.
• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 11.7.1997 to 18.10.1998.

Party positions

• Member of the National Party (Qld) from 1984 to 1987.
• Member of the Liberal Party from 1989 to 2007.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Conference (Qld) from 1990 to 2007.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Qld) from 1990 to 1992.
• Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Party Sunshine Coast Zone (Qld) from 1990 to 1992.
• Membership Development Officer of the Liberal Party Sunshine Coast Zone (Qld) from 1990 to 1992.
• Vice-Chairman of the Liberal Party (Qld) from 1991 to 1992.
• Delegate to the Liberal National Party State Conference (Qld) from 2007 to 2011.
• Member of the Liberal National Party of Queensland 2007 to 2011.

Personal

• Born: 14.2.1950, Ipswich, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Queensland).
• LLB (University of Queensland).
• Barrister and solicitor.
• Businessman and farmer.
• Chairman of the West Moreton Regional Community Corrections Board.

Electorate

• Name: Fisher
• Location: central and southern Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane; it includes the centres of Beerburrum, Beerwah, Caloundra, Kawana, Landsborough, Maleny, Minyama, Montville and Sippy Downs. It also includes Glass House Mountains.
• Area: 1,170 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 88,383 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: tourism, service industries, education, pineapple, orchard and flower crops, dairy and beef cattle farming, and horse racing.
• Includes: Fisher includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Caloundra and Kawana, and parts of Glass House, Maroochydore and Nicklin.