Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Forrest, Western Australia, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories from 29.5.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Regional Development and Decentralisation served from 6.2.2018 to 28.6.2018
• House of Representatives Standing: House served from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts served from 10.11.2008 to 19.7.2010; Communications served from 4.6.2009 to 19.7.2010; Selection served from 30.9.2010 to 22.3.2011; Appropriations and Administration served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Climate Change, Environment and the Arts served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Selection served from 23.5.2011 to 25.5.2011; Selection served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure and Communications served from 4.12.2013 to 13.10.2015; Environment served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Infrastructure, Transport and Cities served from 19.10.2015 to 4.2.2016; Communications and the Arts served from 11.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; House served from 26.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations and Administration served from 26.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Agriculture and Industry served from 11.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations and Administration served from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; House served from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Publications served from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Privileges and Members' Interests served from 10.8.2017 to 11.4.2019; Agriculture and Water Resources served from 6.2.2018 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 28.3.2011 to 24.6.2013; DisabilityCare Australia served from 19.6.2013 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Standards served from 1.8.2022 to 29.11.2022
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; National Capital and External Territories served from 1.8.2022 to 7.8.2022; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 8.8.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 10.8.2017 to 11.4.2019

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 24.11.2007 to present
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Education from 5.6.2022.
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the House of Representatives from 12.2.2008 to 5.8.2013.
• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 18.9.2013 to 12.10.2015.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 30.8.2016 to 29.5.2019.

Party positions

• President of the Liberal Party Harvey Branch (WA) from 1991 to 1995.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Harvey Branch (WA) from 1991 to 1995.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Harvey Branch (WA), 2006.
• President of the Liberal Party Harvey Branch (WA), 2006.

Other positions

• Convener of the IPU Australia-South and Central Asia Parliamentary Network.

Personal

• Born: 18.2.1954, Harvey, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Administration and secretarial duties from 1971 to 1972.
• Small business owner from 1972.

Electorate

• Name: Forrest
• Location: Forrest covers an area in the south west corner of Western Australia from the Shire of Harvey in the north to the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River and Nannup in the south. The Division includes the cities of Bunbury and Busselton and the shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Capel, Dardanup, Donnybrook-Balingup, Harvey and Nannup.
• Area: 11,072 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 105,452 (at 7.6.2019)
• Industries: Agriculture, forestry, mining, fisheries, manufacturing, commerce and tourism.

Honours

• Awarded ABC Regional Rural Woman of the Year (WA South West Region), 1996.
• Received the Premiers Australia Day Active Citizenship Award (WA), 2004.