Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 15.5.2013 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. C Evans (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2016. Re-elected 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Deputy President of the Senate from 30.8.2016 to 26.7.2022.
• Chair of Committees from 30.8.2016 to 26.7.2022.
• President of the Senate from 26.7.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: DisabilityCare Australia served from 18.6.2013 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 30.8.2016 to 9.10.2016; Trade and Investment Growth served from 12.9.2016 to 11.10.2016; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 10.10.2016 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Law Enforcement served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served as Deputy Chair from 26.7.2022 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 12.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 12.11.2013 to 13.11.2013; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 8.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 24.11.2014 to 10.2.2015; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.2.2015 to 23.2.2015; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 5.3.2015 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.3.2015 to 5.6.2015; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 16.2.2017 to 6.3.2017
• Senate Select: Abbott Government's Commission of Audit served from 12.12.2013 to 19.6.2014; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served from 26.6.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Senators' Interests served from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to present; House served as Deputy Chair from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Procedure served from 26.7.2022 to present; House served as Chair from 26.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 15.05.2013 to present

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Education and Training Policy Committee (NSW).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (WA) from 1990.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (WA) from 1990 to 1998.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (WA) from 1990.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 2000.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Policy Committee from 2007 to 2009.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW) from 2007.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party Sydney Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 2008.

Personal

• Born: 15.12.1953, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEd (Murdoch University).
• Teacher from 1984 to 1985.
• Community organiser from 1985 to 1987.
• Organiser for United Voice from 1987 to 2001.
• Assistant Secretary of United Voice (WA) from 2001 to 2007.
• Assistant Secretary of United Voice from 2007 to 2013.