Biography

Parliamentary service

• Appointed by the Governor of Tasmania on 8.3.1996 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Devereux (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 1996. Re-elected 2001. Resigned 29.7.2005.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.12.2004 to 29.7.2005
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 29.5.1996 to 12.12.1996
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics: References served from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 4.12.1996 to 4.9.1997; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 4.12.1996 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served from 4.9.1997 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 12.3.1998 to 9.11.1998; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 24.11.1998 to 1.7.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served as Substitute member from 28.6.1999 to 30.9.1999; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 29.11.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served from 13.2.2002 to 29.11.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 29.11.2004 to 29.7.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 29.11.2004 to 29.7.2005
• Senate Select: New Tax System served as Substitute member from 30.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; Socio-Economic Consequences of the National Competition Policy served from 10.3.1999 to 17.2.2000
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 2.5.1996 to 23.9.1997; Senators' Interests served from 2.5.1996 to 4.10.2000; Selection of Bills served from 12.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Parliamentary Library served from 13.2.2002 to 1.7.2002

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Finland and Germany, April 2002.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 08.03.1996 to 29.07.2005
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Ministers for Employment and Training, and Industrial Relations from 26.8.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 26.8.1997 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Living Standards, Employment and Economic Development Caucus Committee from 1996 to 1998.
• Opposition Whip in the Senate from 22.11.2001 to 22.10.2004.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1978.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (Tas.) from 1980.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.) from 1992 to 1996.

Personal

• Born: 14.4.1960, Aberdeen, Scotland
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Organiser for the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1980 to 1982.
• Employment Officer at the Commonwealth Employment Service from 1982 to 1983.
• Women's Organiser at the Public Sector Union from 1983 to 1984.
• Industrial Officer and Advocate for the Public Sector Union (Tas.) from 1984 to 1988.
• Senior Adviser to the Hon. D Kerr, MP from 1988 to 1990.
• Senior Adviser to the Minister for Health, Multicultural and Aboriginal Affairs (Tas.) from 1990 to 1992.
• Senior Policy Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition (Tas.), 1992.
• Party official from 1992 to 1996.