Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2010. Defeated at general elections 2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 10.5.2012 to 9.5.2016.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Migration served from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 16.3.2012 to 20.8.2012; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Law Enforcement served from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2011 to 7.7.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 7.7.2011 to 9.2.2012; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 7.7.2011 to 9.2.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.8.2011 to 22.3.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 14.3.2014 to 14.3.2014; Economics: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 1.7.2014; Economics: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Economics: Legislation served as Chair from 2.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 29.2.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Select: Australia's Food Processing Sector served from 4.7.2011 to 16.8.2012; Electricity Prices served from 10.9.2012 to 1.11.2012; Abbott Government's Commission of Audit served from 11.2.2014 to 19.6.2014; Health served from 26.6.2014 to 5.5.2016; Murray-Darling Basin Plan served from 12.10.2015 to 17.3.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 13.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2014 to 1.7.2014

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.2011 to 01.07.2016

Party positions

• President of the Young Liberals Blackwood and Districts Branch (SA) from 1985 to 1988.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Clare Branch (SA) from 2002 to 2004.
• President of the Liberal Party Clare Branch (SA) from 2004 to 2008.
• President of the Liberal Party Wakefield Federal Electorate Council (SA) from 2006 to 2008.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 2007 to 2010.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Finance Committee from 2007 to 2010.
• President of the Liberal Party (SA) from 2007 to 2010.
• Life Member of the Liberal Party State Council (SA) from 2010.

Personal

• Born: 2.1.1962, Clare, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• CertRealEstate (Gawler College of Further Education).
• Real Estate Agency.
• Auctioneer, Land and Estate Agent from 1980 to 1996.
• Vigneron and winemaker from 1996.