Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Franklin, Tasmania, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 7.5.1996 to 8.10.2001.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 17.11.2004 to 17.10.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Community Affairs served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Employment, Education and Training served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Privileges served from 24.11.1993 to 9.5.1994; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 7.12.1998; Family and Community Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 29.5.1996 to 7.12.1998; Family and Community Affairs served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Selection served from 18.2.2002 to 31.8.2004; House served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Ageing served from 20.3.2002 to 14.5.2002; Members' Interests served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Family and Community Affairs served from 15.10.2002 to 31.8.2004; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 13.5.2004 to 31.8.2004; Science and Innovation served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Family and Human Services served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 4.5.1994 to 31.8.1998; National Crime Authority served from 9.11.1994 to 29.1.1996

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Pacific, July 1993.
• Member, 92nd IPU Conference, Denmark and bilateral visits to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, August-September 1994.
• Member, Official Committee Exchange to New Zealand by Joint Committee on Native Title, August 1995.
• Member, 98th IPU Conference, Cairo, and bilateral visit to Kuwait, September 1997.
• Study tour, New Zealand, July 2000.
• Study tour, Poland and France, August-September 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to France and Germany, September-October 2001.
• Official visit to Turkey, April 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Laos, United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, September 2005.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Saudi Arabia and China, June-July 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 13.03.1993 to 20.08.2007
• Independent. Served: 20.08.2007 to 17.10.2007
• Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from 22.11.2001 to 22.10.2004.

Other positions

• Member of the Parliamentary Education Office Advisory Committee.

Personal

• Born: 28.6.1941, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Tasmanian Teachers' Certificate.
• Teacher and education officer.
• Electorate officer to Senator the Hon. M Tate from 1988 to 1993.

Electorate

• Name: Franklin
• Location: southern Tasmania; it includes the centres of Blackmans Bay, Bridgewater, Clarence, Cygnet, Dover, Franklin, Geeveston, Huonville, Kingston, Margate. It also includes Bruny Island.
• Area: 7,933 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 69,794 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: apples, pears, small fruits, fishing, beef cattle, sheep, forestry, cottage industry and tourism.
• Includes: Franklin is co-extensive with the Tasmanian House of Assembly electorate of the same name.