Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Wide Bay, Queensland, 1990. Re-elected 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Deputy Chairman of Committees from 12.9.1991 to 21.2.1994.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 21.2.1994 to 31.1.1995.
• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 1.5.1996 to 20.10.1997.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Minister for Community Services from 21.10.1998 to 20.7.1999.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 20.7.1999 to 6.7.2005.
• Cabinet Minister from 20.7.1999 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Transport and Regional Services from 6.7.2005 to 29.9.2006.
• Minister for Trade from 29.9.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Deputy Prime Minister from 18.9.2013 to 18.2.2016.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.9.2013 to 18.2.2016.
• Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development from 18.9.2013 to 18.2.2016.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Procedure served from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 16.5.1990 to 25.10.1993; Long Term Strategies served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served as Deputy Chair from 26.10.1993 to 29.5.1996; Procedure served from 29.5.1996 to 30.10.1997; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served as Chair from 30.5.1996 to 8.10.1997; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 9.10.1997 to 22.10.1997
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 18.6.1996 to 23.10.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 3.2.2010 to 22.2.2010
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority served from 18.6.1996 to 23.10.1997

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 09.05.2016
• National Party of Australia. Served: 24.03.1990 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs from 13.12.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 6.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government from 22.9.2008 to 25.3.2010.
• Shadow Minister for Trade, Transport and Local Government from 25.3.2010 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 5.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 23.6.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 3.12.2007 to 11.2.2016.

Party positions

• President of the National Party Kumbia Branch (Qld) from 1974 to 1987.
• Vice-President of the National Party Barambah State Electorate Council (Qld) from 1978 to 1988.
• Member of the National Party Central Council (Qld.) from 1981 to 2008.
• President of the National Party Wide Bay Division Council (Qld) from 1984 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 8.10.1948, Kingaroy, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Farmer.
• President of the Australian Council of Rural Youth from 1973 to 1974.
• Member of the Graingrowers' Association Council (Qld) from 1979 to 1990.
• Chair of the Sugar Coast Burnett Regional Tourism Board from 1985 to 1989.
• Deputy Chair of Bulk Grains (Qld) from 1985 to 1990.

Local Government service

• Member, Kingaroy Shire Council from 1976 to 1990.
• Chair, Kingaroy Shire Council from 1983 to 1990.
• President, South Burnett Local Government Association from 1984 to 1985.
• President, South Burnett Local Government Association from 1989 to 1990.
• President, Burnett District Local Government Association from 1989 to 1990.

Electorate

• Name: Wide Bay
• Location: southern eastern Queensland coast and hinterland; it includes the centres of Gympie, Maryborough, Murgon and Noosa Heads. It also includes Fraser Island.
• Area: 14,573 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 95,172 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: tourism, timber, dairying, grain, grazing, sugar, tropical fruit orchards and railway rolling stock.
• Includes: Wide Bay includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Gympie, and parts of Callide, Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Nicklin and Noosa.

Honours

• Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2019.