Speeches Browse all speeches (Hansard) Biography Parliamentary service Elected to the Senate for Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 2001. Defeated at general elections, 2007. Committee service Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 1.7.1996 to 12.8.1999; Parliamentary Library served from 9.12.2005 to 30.6.2008Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.1996 to 26.2.1997; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.10.1996 to 25.11.1996; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 17.10.1996 to 25.6.1997; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 10.12.1996 to 2.3.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 5.2.1997 to 5.3.1997; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.1997 to 2.10.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served from 2.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Chair from 2.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.3.1998 to 8.4.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 8.4.1998 to 30.6.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 30.9.1999; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 24.11.1998 to 25.11.1998; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served as Chair from 26.11.1998 to 26.3.2003; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.4.1999 to 23.8.1999; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served as Substitute member from 22.6.1999 to 16.3.2000; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.8.1999 to 20.9.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 22.9.1999 to 30.9.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 11.10.1999 to 8.10.2001; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 12.10.1999 to 16.2.2000; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 12.10.1999 to 17.9.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.6.2000 to 12.10.2000; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 4.9.2000 to 8.10.2001; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.2000 to 8.10.2001; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 21.3.2002 to 6.3.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2002 to 2.12.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 27.3.2003 to 27.3.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.8.2003 to 28.10.2003; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 21.8.2003 to 11.9.2003; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.3.2004 to 23.3.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 11.5.2004 to 8.2.2005; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.5.2004 to 30.9.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2004 to 31.8.2004; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 17.10.2007; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 7.12.2004 to 23.6.2005; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 30.6.2008; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served as Substitute member from 28.2.2007 to 17.10.2007; Economics served as Substitute member from 29.3.2007 to 9.5.2007; Economics served as Substitute member from 17.3.2008 to 30.5.2008Senate Select: Superannuation served from 1.7.1996 to 9.11.1998; Victorian Casino Inquiry served as Substitute member from 8.7.1996 to 10.8.1996; Superannuation and Financial Services served from 29.9.1999 to 8.10.2001; Lucas Heights Reactor served from 10.10.2000 to 2.11.2000; Superannuation served from 14.3.2002 to 20.8.2002; Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004; Mental Health served as Chair from 8.3.2005 to 28.4.2006Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 1.7.1996 to 30.6.2008; Appropriations and Staffing served from 25.8.1999 to 22.9.1999; Appropriations and Staffing served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Procedure served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Selection of Bills served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2005; Parliamentary Library served from 14.2.2008 to 30.6.2008 Conferences, delegations and visits Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, April 2002.Member, Parliamentary Delegations to New Zealand, April 2008. Parliamentary party positions Australian Democrats. Served: 01.07.1996 to 30.06.2008Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Community Services and Disability Services; Consumer Affairs; Local Government and Territories; Public Service; Schools from 1.7.1996 to 25.2.1997.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Schools; Telecommunications; Public Service; Arts; Disability Services; Local Government and Territories; Housing from 25.2.1997 to 20.10.1997.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Communications (excluding Broadcasting and Media); Disability Services; Housing; Local Government and Territories; Public Service; Schools from 20.10.1997 to 12.12.1997.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Environment; Public Service; Local Government and Territories; Schools; Superannuation; Disability Services; Arts from 12.12.1997 to 1.1.1999.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Centenary of Federation; Disabilities; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 1.1.1999 to 1.7.1999.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Disability Services; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 1.7.1999 to 11.10.1999.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Heritage; Local Government; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 11.10.1999 to 20.3.2000.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Resources; Heritage; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 20.3.2000 to 14.2.2001.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disability; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 14.2.2001 to 22.5.2001.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disability; Energy and Resources and Nuclear Issues; Heritage; Public Service; Schools; Superannuation; Telecommunications from 22.5.2001 to 1.7.2002.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Telecommunications from 1.7.2002 to 21.8.2002.Australian Democrats Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2002 to 13.12.2004.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Aged Care; Disabilities; Energy and Fuel Industry; Heritage; Local Government; Nuclear Issues; Public Service; Schools; Telecommunications; Training from 21.8.2002 to 24.10.2002.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Heritage; Schools and Training; Transport from 24.10.2002 to 2.4.2004.Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 24.10.2002 to 3.11.2004.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Heritage; Schools and Training; Transport and Environment from 2.4.2004 to 13.12.2004.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Energy and Resources; Health and Ageing; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Schools; Treasury; Training; Transport from 13.12.2004 to 1.7.2005.Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 13.12.2004 to 30.6.2008.Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Education; Health and Ageing; Resources, Energy and Infrastructure; Treasury and Commonwealth-State Relations from 1.7.2005 to 30.6.2008. Personal Born: 21.10.1946, Melbourne, AustraliaGender: Female Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament BEd (University of Melbourne).Administrator from 1964 to 1986.Secondary school teacher from 1987 to 1991. Local Government service Councillor, City of Port Melbourne from 1992 to 1994.