Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Riverina, New South Wales, 2010. Re-elected 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 21.9.2015 to 18.2.2016.
• Assistant Minister for Defence from 18.2.2016 to 19.7.2016.
• Minister for Small Business from 19.7.2016 to 20.12.2017.
• Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 20.12.2017 to 5.3.2018.
• Minister for Defence Personnel from 20.12.2017 to 5.3.2018.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC from 20.12.2017 to 5.3.2018.
• Cabinet Minister from 26.2.2018 to 2.7.2021.
• Deputy Prime Minister from 26.2.2018 to 22.6.2021.
• Minister for Infrastructure and Transport from 26.2.2018 to 28.8.2018.
• Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development from 28.8.2018 to 22.6.2021.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: House served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Regional Australia served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Economics served from 11.3.2022 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 11.3.2022 to present; Trade and Investment Growth served from 11.3.2022 to 11.4.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 21.08.2010 to present
• Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific from 5.6.2022.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 20.12.2017 to 5.3.2018.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 26.2.2018 to 21.6.2021.

Party positions

• Campaign Director for the Nationals in Riverina (NSW), 2004.
• Campaign Director for the Nationals in Riverina (NSW), 2007.
• Vice-Chairman of the Nationals Riverina Federal Electorate Council (NSW), 2010.
• Member of the Nationals Central Council (NSW), 2010.

Other positions

• Justice of the Peace.

Personal

• Born: 2.8.1964, Wagga Wagga, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Journalist and reporter for the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga (NSW) from 1981 to 1988.
• Sub-editor for the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga (NSW) from 1988 to 1991.
• Acting Editor for the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga (NSW) from 1991 to 1992.
• Editor of the Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga (NSW) from 1992 to 2002.
• Editor of the Riverina Media Group from 1996 to 2002.
• Publisher for MSS Media Services and Solutions from 2002 to 2010.

Electorate

• Name: Riverina
• Location: Riverina is located in the south of NSW and extends from Parkes, Cowra, Harden and Gundagai in the east to Ungarie, Ardlethan and Coolamon in the west and from Tullamore, Peak Hill and Parkes in the north to Lockhart, Tarcutta and Gundagai in the south. Towns include Ardlethan, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Cowra, Forbes, Grenfell, Gundagai, Harden, Junee, Parkes, Peak Hill, Tarcutta, Temora, Tullamore, Ungarie, Wagga Wagga, West Wyalong and Young.
• Area: 48,988 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 113,960 (at 6.6.2019)
• Industries: Wheat, barley, canola, rice and cereal crops. Fat lambs, wool, poultry, dairying, cattle, ostrich, emu, deer, and goat farming. Food processing, fruit, grapes and wine making. Flour-milling, concrete pipes, steel construction, saw milling, joinery, plaster works and tourism.

Publications

• 40 not out: history of the Marian/St Michael's Cricket Club 1963-2004 .
• Might and bite: history of the Turvey Park Australian Football Club 1952-2002 .
• And the big boys fly: history of the Carroll Cup 1969-2008 .
• Wild colonial boys: bushrangers in the Riverina, 1996.
• New South Wales: linking Australia to the world, 2003.
• The mighty Dons: history of the Marian Dons/South Wagga-Tolland Football Club, 2004.
• From rags to riches: centenary of the Wagga Wagga Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, 2004.
• Mud, sweat and cheers: 50 years of the Wagga Kangaroos Rugby League Football Club, 2004.