Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2013. Re-elected 2016 and 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 26.8.2021 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 6.10.2020 to 11.4.2022; Treaties served from 2.2.2021 to 18.10.2021; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 28.7.2022 to 6.3.2023
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 30.11.2021 to 10.2.2022
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served as Substitute member from 13.5.2015 to 14.10.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.6.2015 to 11.8.2015; Education and Employment: References served as Substitute member from 11.11.2015 to 17.3.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.2.2016 to 11.3.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.3.2016 to 22.4.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 18.3.2016 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.3.2016 to 9.5.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 20.3.2017 to 9.6.2017; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 15.6.2017 to 20.3.2019; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 22.6.2017 to 14.9.2017; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 16.8.2017 to 15.12.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 4.9.2017 to 7.9.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 7.9.2017 to 1.7.2019; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 16.11.2017 to 6.7.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 14.11.2018 to 26.11.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.12.2018 to 14.2.2019; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.12.2018 to 8.2.2019; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 4.7.2019 to 6.10.2020; Environment and Communications: References served as Chair from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019; Community Affairs: References served from 26.8.2021 to 6.9.2021; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 26.8.2021 to 6.9.2021; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 7.9.2021 to 27.3.2024; Community Affairs: References served as Chair from 7.9.2021 to 27.3.2024
• Senate Select: Health served as Substitute member from 18.9.2015 to 18.9.2015; Stillbirth Research and Education served from 28.3.2018 to 4.12.2018; Electric Vehicles served from 27.6.2018 to 30.1.2019; Administration of Sports Grants served from 6.2.2020 to 18.3.2021
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 01.07.2014 to present
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Forests; Tourism; Transport and Infrastructure from 1.7.2014 to 25.5.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Marriage Equality; Forests; Tourism from 25.5.2015 to 15.9.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Forests; Tourism; Mental Health from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Forests; Gender identities and Intersex issues; LGBTIQ; Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 25.8.2016 to 5.7.2019.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure, Forests, LGBTIQ, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sport, Science, Research and Innovation (Senate) from 5.7.2019 to 9.9.2020.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Multiculturalism, Forests, LGBTIQ, Transport and Infrastructure, Science, Research and Innovation from 9.9.2020 to 15.9.2021.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Multiculturalism, Forests, LGBTIQ, Family, Ageing and Community Services from 15.9.2021 to 17.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Party Room Chair from 10.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Social Services, Aged Care, Government Services and Forests from 17.6.2022 to 25.3.2024.

Party positions

• Founding member of the Australian Greens (Vic.) from 1992.
• Member of the Australian Greens State Council (Vic.) from 1992.
• Member of the Australian Greens Executive Committee (Vic.) from 1992 to 2004.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2001.
• Life Member of the Australian Greens (Vic.) from 2002.
• Co-convener of the Australian Greens (Vic.) from 2003 to 2004.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2008.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2012.

Other positions

• Advisory Member of the Centre for Governance and Management of Urban Transport Board (University of Melbourne) from 2009 to 2013.

Personal

• Born: 18.11.1960, Altona, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSc(Hons) (University of Melbourne).
• Environment campaigner for the Conservation Council (Vic.) and East Gippsland Coalition from 1983 to 1990.
• Water Policy Officer at the Department of Water Resources (Vic.) from 1985 to 1986.
• Senior Consultant at Context Pty. Ltd., 1991.
• Ride to Work Coordinator for Bicycle Victoria from 1993 to 1997.
• Senior Consultant at Context Pty. Ltd. from 1997 to 2002.
• Principal Consultant at Janet Rice Facilitation and Community Involvement from 2003 to 2014.
• Campaign manager for the Australian Greens (Vic.) and C Hartland MLC (Vic.) from 2008 to 2010.
• Strategic Transport Planner from 2011 to 2012.

Local Government service

• Councillor, City of Maribyrnong from 2003 to 2008.
• Chair, Metropolitan Transport Forum from 2004 to 2008.
• Board Member, Victorian Local Governance Association from 2005 to 2008.
• Mayor, City of Maribyrnong from 2005 to 2006.
• Vice-President, Victorian Local Governance Association from 2007 to 2008.