Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Victoria 25.10.2016 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. S Conroy (resigned). Died in office 10.3.2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.10.2017 to 10.3.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Government Procurement served from 1.12.2016 to 29.6.2017
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 10.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.2.2018 to 11.4.2019; Treaties served from 8.10.2020 to 10.3.2022
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 4.7.2019 to 10.3.2022
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education and Employment: Legislation served from 8.11.2016 to 22.11.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 8.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 8.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 8.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Education and Employment: References served from 8.11.2016 to 22.11.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 22.6.2017 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.12.2017 to 15.12.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 2.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 3.7.2019 to 10.3.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Chair from 3.7.2019 to 10.3.2022; Economics: Legislation served from 5.2.2020 to 5.2.2020; Economics: References served from 5.2.2020 to 5.2.2020; Economics: Legislation served from 5.2.2020 to 6.2.2020; Economics: References served as Chair from 6.2.2020 to 16.6.2020; Economics: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 6.2.2020 to 16.6.2020
• Senate Select: Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill served from 1.12.2016 to 15.2.2017; Strengthening Multiculturalism served from 23.3.2017 to 17.8.2017; Obesity Epidemic in Australia served from 10.5.2018 to 5.12.2018; Foreign Interference through Social Media served from 5.12.2019 to 10.3.2022; Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre served from 8.10.2020 to 8.10.2020; Australia as a Technology and Financial Centre served as Deputy Chair from 9.10.2020 to 13.5.2021
• Senate Standing: Publications served from 22.11.2016 to 1.7.2019; Privileges served from 29.11.2017 to 15.10.2018

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 25.10.2016 to 10.03.2022
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
• Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 2.6.2019 to 10.3.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Services from 28.1.2021 to 10.3.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from 28.1.2021 to 10.3.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Melbourne Ports Federal Electorate Council (Vic.), 1999.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Legal Affairs Policy Committee, 2000.
• Treasurer of the Australian Labor Party Caulfield Branch (Vic.) , 2001.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Carlton Branch (Vic.), 2004.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.), 2008.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee, 2008.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Melbourne Federal Electorate Council (Vic.), 2008.
• Assistant Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Wills Federal Electorate Council (Vic.), 2014.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2015.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Municipal Coordination Committee (Vic.), 2015.

Personal

• Born: 16.2.1970, Brisbane, Australia
• Died: 10.3.2022, Melbourne
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Queensland).
• LLB (University of Queensland).
• Manager of Private Information Technology and Human Resources companies.
• Senior Adviser to the Treasurer and Minister for Industry, Trade, Major Projects and Information Technology (Vic.).
• General Manager of the Health Workers' Union.
• Special Counsel at Cornwall Stodart.

Local Government service

• Councillor, City of Melbourne from 2001 to 2004.