Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2010. Re-elected 2016. Resigned 18.7.2017. (election ruled void 27.10.2017 under section 44 (i) of the Constitution; ruled ineligible from 2.7.2016) Chosen by the Parliament of Queensland on 6.9.2018 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice A Bartlett (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Northern Australia served from 12.9.2016 to 18.7.2017; Northern Australia served from 11.9.2018 to 11.4.2019; Electoral Matters served from 20.9.2018 to 30.10.2018; Electoral Matters served from 1.11.2018 to 4.3.2019; Electoral Matters served from 6.3.2019 to present; Parliamentary Library served from 14.11.2023 to present
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 3.2.2017 to 4.2.2017
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 5.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served from 5.7.2011 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 26.6.2014 to 7.7.2014; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 30.9.2014 to 20.8.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.10.2014 to 28.10.2014; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.6.2015 to 10.11.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 26.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.8.2016 to 30.11.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 7.2.2017; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.9.2016 to 7.2.2017; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 15.6.2017 to 18.7.2017; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.9.2018 to 12.10.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 17.9.2019 to 8.10.2020; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.8.2021 to 6.10.2021; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 30.11.2022 to 14.9.2023; Education and Employment: References served as Substitute member from 10.5.2023 to 31.8.2023; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.5.2023 to 24.8.2023; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.9.2023 to 4.3.2024; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.11.2023 to 9.2.2024; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.11.2023 to 5.2.2024; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 7.12.2023 to present; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.2.2024 to present
• Senate Select: Health served as Substitute member from 21.8.2014 to 22.8.2014; Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs served from 2.10.2014 to 27.3.2015; Health served as Substitute member from 31.10.2014 to 31.10.2014; Unconventional Gas Mining served from 23.11.2015 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 5.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 13.2.2019 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 01.07.2011 to 18.07.2017, 06.09.2018 to present
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Environment and Biodiversity; Women; Resources, Mining and Coal Seam Gas from 1.7.2014 to 25.5.2015.
• Co-Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Greens from 6.5.2015 to 18.7.2017.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Climate Change, Resources, Mining and Coal Seam Gas; Environment and Biodiversity; Women from 25.5.2015 to 15.9.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Climate Change and Resources; Environment and Biodiversity; Women from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Environment and Biodiversity; Mining and Resources; Women; Gambling; and Tourism from 25.8.2016 to 18.7.2017.
• Co-Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Greens from 4.12.2018 to 10.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Democracy, Mining and Resources, Women, Tourism and Gambling from 5.7.2019 to 4.2.2020.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Democracy, Mining and Resources, and Women from 4.2.2020 to 9.9.2020.
• Leader of the Australian Greens in the Senate from 4.2.2020.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Women, Mining and Resources, Democracy (covers Local Government) and Lead on Climate Emergency and Energy (Senate) from 9.9.2020 to 15.9.2021.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Women, Democracy (covers Local Government), Climate Emergency and Energy (Senate) and Public Sector from 15.9.2021 to 17.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Women and Democracy from 17.6.2022.

Party positions

• Convener of the Australian Greens North Brisbane Branch (Qld) from 2006 to 2007.
• Spokesperson for the Australian Greens on Environment and Justice (Qld) from 2007 to 2009.
• Spokesperson for the Australian Greens (Qld) from 2009.

Personal

• Born: 8.2.1977, Winnipeg, Canada
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSc (Griffith University).
• GradDipLegPrac (College of Law, NSW).
• LLB(Hons) (Griffith University).
• Legal researcher at the Land and Resources Tribunal from 2000 to 2001.
• Graduate lawyer at Freehills from 2001 to 2002.
• Community environmental lawyer at the Environmental Defender's Office (Qld) from 2002 to 2011.