Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Longman, Queensland, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007. Elected to the House of Representatives for Fisher, Queensland, 2013. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business from 16.2.2000 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister for Employment Services from 14.2.2001 to 18.7.2004.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence from 7.10.2003 to 18.7.2004.
• Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer from 18.7.2004 to 27.1.2006.
• Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Special Minister of State from 21.9.2015 to 29.12.2015.
• Minister for Defence Materiel and Science from 21.9.2015 to 29.12.2015.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 30.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Industry, Science and Resources served from 21.6.1999 to 8.3.2000; Infrastructure and Communications served from 4.12.2013 to 24.9.2014
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 18.6.1996 to 31.8.1998; National Disability Insurance Scheme served as Chair from 4.12.2013 to 12.10.2015
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 8.12.1998 to 7.3.2000

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 24.11.2007, 07.09.2013 to 09.05.2016

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Kawana Branch (Qld).
• President of the Liberal Party (Qld), 2008.

Personal

• Born: 29.12.1961, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Private sector business from 1988 to 1996.

Military Service

• Military service from 1979 to 1987.

Electorate

• Name: Fisher
• Location: central and southern Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane; it includes the centres of Beerburrum, Beerwah, Caloundra, Kawana, Landsborough, Maleny, Minyama, Montville and Sippy Downs. It also includes Glass House Mountains.
• Area: 1,170 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 88,383 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: tourism, service industries, education, pineapple, orchard and flower crops, dairy and beef cattle farming, and horse racing.
• Includes: Fisher includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Caloundra and Kawana, and parts of Glass House, Maroochydore and Nicklin.