Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 1993. Re-elected 1998. Defeated at general elections, 2004.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.9.1996 to 12.2.2002.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 12.12.1996 to 31.8.1998
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 9.2.1995 to 8.10.2001
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group C served from 1.7.1993 to 27.9.1993; Estimates Group D served from 19.8.1993 to 22.3.1994; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 23.3.1994 to 25.5.1994; Estimates Group D served from 26.5.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 1.7.1993 to 9.6.1994; Industry, Science, Technology, Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 1.7.1993 to 9.10.1994; Rural and Regional Affairs served from 9.6.1994 to 9.10.1994; Economics: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Economics: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.1994 to 18.11.1994; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.2.1995 to 9.2.1995; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.2.1995 to 15.2.1995; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.3.1995 to 10.3.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.11.1995 to 1.12.1995; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Chair from 2.5.1996 to 9.11.1998; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 17.7.1996 to 25.7.1996; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 7.3.1997 to 7.3.1997; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 7.4.1998 to 3.12.1998; Economics: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Economics: References served from 24.11.1998 to 29.11.1998; Economics: References served as Chair from 30.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Substitute member from 25.10.1999 to 25.10.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 14.4.2000 to 2.11.2000
• Senate Select: Public Interest Whistleblowing served from 30.9.1993 to 31.8.1994; Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Unresolved Whistleblower Cases served from 1.12.1994 to 7.12.1994; Unresolved Whistleblower Cases served as Chair from 8.12.1994 to 26.10.1995; New Tax System served as Substitute member from 30.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; A Certain Maritime Incident served from 14.2.2002 to 23.10.2002
• Senate Standing: Senators' Interests served from 1.3.1995 to 30.5.1995

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to European Parliamentary Institutions, France and Belgium, and bilateral visit to UK (Northern Ireland), September-October 1996.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1993 to 02.10.2001
• Independent. Served: 02.10.2001 to 30.06.2005

Party positions

• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Industry Policy Committee (Tas.).

Personal

• Born: 8.1.1952, Queenstown, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Shearer.
• Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (Tas.).