Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Rumney, 1999. Defeated at general elections 2011.
• Federal: Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 20.6.2012 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. N Sherry (resigned). Defeated at general elections 2013.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 21.6.2012 to 30.6.2014; National Broadband Network served from 21.6.2012 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 4.12.2013 to 30.6.2014
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 21.6.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 27.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 27.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.10.2012 to 17.10.2012; Community Affairs: References served from 25.2.2013 to 11.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served from 12.11.2013 to 13.11.2013; Environment and Communications: References served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 4.12.2013 to 5.3.2014; Community Affairs: References served from 6.3.2014 to 30.6.2014
• Senate Select: Electricity Prices served from 23.8.2012 to 1.11.2012; National Broadband Network served from 14.11.2013 to 30.6.2014
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 21.6.2012 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 12.11.2013 to 6.3.2014; Parliamentary Library served from 12.11.2013 to 1.12.2013; Publications served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 20.06.2012 to 30.06.2014

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).
• Assistant Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Platform Committee.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Tas.).
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party local branch.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1994.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Tas.) from 1995.

Personal

• Born: 4.11.1953, Hobart, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (University of Tasmania).
• TCAE (Tasmanian College of Advanced Education).
• BA (University of Tasmania).
• Teacher from 1977 to 1999.
• Health Research Consultant at the Menzies Centre for Population from 1991 to 1995.
• Medical School Consultant at the University of Tasmania from 1991 to 1995.
• Adviser to Senator S Mackay, 1996.
• Member of the Legislative Council (Tas.) from 1999 to 2011.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Rumney, 1999. Defeated at general elections 2011.
• Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council from 2006 to 2011.
• Minister for Human Services from 17.9.2008 to 21.4.2010.
• Minister for Education and Skills from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.
• Minister for Children from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.
• Minister for Police and Emergency Management from 21.4.2010 to 7.5.2011.