Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Ryan, Queensland, 1975. Re-elected 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1998. Resigned 5.2.2001.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 6.9.1983 to 11.3.1996.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs from 3.11.1980 to 20.4.1982.
• Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism from 11.3.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Vice-President of the Executive Council from 11.3.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Cabinet Minister from 11.3.1996 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister for Defence from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.10.1987 to 17.8.1989
• Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 16.5.1990 to 7.3.1991; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 17.5.1990 to 30.6.1994
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Securities served from 7.3.1991 to 29.6.1994

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, 65th IPU Conference, Bonn, September 1978.
• Member, 67th IPU Conference, East Berlin, September 1980.
• Leader, Australian Delegation to ESCAP, Bangkok, March 1981.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Africa, July-August 1982.
• Leader, Opposition Parliamentary Delegation to Israel, 1987.
• Leader, Opposition Parliamentary Delegation to USSR, 1988.
• Guest of British Government on Privatisation study, 1990.
• Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and USA, May-June 1992.
• Member, Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade study tour of Indonesia, October 1992.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia and Morocco, November-December 1993.
• Official visits to USA, May-June 1996.
• Official visits to Singapore and Indonesia, October 1996.
• Official visits to Germany, UK and USA, March 1997.
• Official visits to USA, May-June 1997.
• Official visits to USA, Chile, Argentina and South Africa, June-July 1997.
• Official visits to Singapore, Japan and China, July-August 1997.
• Official visits to Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, November 1997.
• Official visits to UK, Germany, France, Belgium and USA, January-February 1998.
• Official visits to France, June 1998.
• Official visits to Indonesia, November 1998.
• Official visits to Thailand, December 1998.
• Official visits to Bougainville, December 1999.
• Official visits to Singapore and Malaysia, February 1999.
• Official visits to Indonesia, UK and USA, April-May 1999.
• Official visits to China, Republic of Korea and Japan, May 1999.
• Official visits to USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, UK and East Timor, October-November 1999.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, December 1999.
• Official visits to East Timor, December 1999.
• Official visits to USA, March 2000.
• Official visits to New Zealand, June 2000.
• Official visits to Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and USA, July 2000.
• Official visits to East Timor, December 2000.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 13.12.1975 to 05.02.2001
• Shadow Minister for Finance from 16.3.1983 to 14.12.1984.
• Shadow Minister for Communications from 14.12.1984 to 9.9.1985.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 16.3.1985 to 9.9.1985.
• Shadow Minister for Local Government and Northern Development from 9.9.1985 to 21.4.1987.
• Shadow Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs from 21.4.1987 to 12.5.1989.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 21.4.1987 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Transport and Aviation from 1.5.1987 to 14.8.1987.
• Shadow Minister for Business, Privatisation and Consumer Affairs from 12.5.1989 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Privatisation and Public Administration from 26.5.1994 to 25.9.1994.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce and Privatisation from 25.9.1994 to 31.1.1995.
• Shadow Minister for Industry and Commerce from 31.1.1995 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Public Administration from 10.3.1995 to 11.3.1996.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (Qld) from 1966.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party (Qld) from 1968 to 1973.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1968 to 1976.
• President of the Liberal Party (Qld) from 1973 to 1976.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1973 to 1976.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1984 to 1990.
• President of the Liberal Party (Qld) from 1984 to 1990.
• Member of the Liberal Party Federal Council from 1984 to 1990.

Other positions

• Chair of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign Metropolitan Branch.
• Member of the ABC State Advisory Committee.
• Member of the Australian National University Council from 1971 to 1976.
• Member of the Anti-Cancer Council of Queensland from 1972 to 1976.
• Member of the Queensland Festival of Arts Board of Governors, 1976.

Personal

• Born: 16.11.1936, Rockhampton, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• AASA (Australian Society of Accountants).
• AA (University of Queensland).
• ASIA (Securities Institute of Australia).
• BCom (University of Queensland).
• Member, Brisbane Stock Exchange.
• Company director.

Electorate

• Name: Ryan
• Location: South-western Brisbane; it includes the suburbs of Bellbowrie, Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Corinda, Indooroopilly, Kenmore, St Lucia, Taringa and The Gap, and parts of Darra, Oxley and Toowong.
• Area: 238 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 83,455 (at 3.10.1998)
• Industries: Light industry and farming. It also includes the University of Queensland.
• Includes: Ryan includes parts of the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Ashgrove, Inala, Indooroopilly, Mt Ommaney, Moggill and Mt Coot-tha.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2004.

Publications

• Privatisation, the Australian way, Liberal Party of Australia, Canberra: 1989.