Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2007. Defeated at general elections 2013. Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2016. Re-elected 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water from 14.9.2010 to 25.3.2013.
• Minister for Science and Research from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister Assisting for Tourism from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Sport from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Special Minister of State from 1.6.2022.
• Minister for Trade and Tourism from 1.6.2022.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2008 to 19.7.2010; Treaties served from 1.9.2016 to 8.11.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 14.9.2016; National Broadband Network served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 16.3.2009 to 26.10.2010; Law Enforcement served from 23.11.2016 to 15.2.2018; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 22.6.2017 to 11.4.2019; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served as Substitute member from 15.9.2008 to 12.12.2008; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served from 5.2.2009 to 13.5.2009; Community Affairs served as Substitute member from 17.3.2009 to 11.11.2009; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 24.5.2010 to 24.5.2010; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 23.11.2016 to 30.11.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 5.2.2018 to 1.7.2019; Environment and Communications: References served from 5.2.2018 to 15.2.2018; Education and Employment: References served from 2.7.2019 to 1.6.2022
• Senate Select: Agricultural and Related Industries served from 15.9.2008 to 12.12.2008
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 13.8.2009 to 27.9.2010; Publications served from 1.9.2016 to 16.2.2017; Privileges served from 4.7.2019 to 1.6.2022; Publications served from 8.10.2020 to 13.5.2021

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to Brunei, October 2010.
• Official visits to Singapore, July 2011.
• Official visits to Samoa, July 2011.
• Official visits to Singapore, June-July 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.2008 to 30.06.2014, 02.07.2016 to present
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Centenary of ANZAC from 18.10.2013 to 24.6.2014.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 11.10.2016 to 30.5.2019.
• Shadow Special Minister of State from 11.10.2016 to 1.6.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Sport from 11.10.2016 to 1.6.2022.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 11.10.2016 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Tourism from 2.6.2019 to 1.6.2022.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition from 2.6.2019 to 1.6.2022.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2008 to 14.9.2010.
• Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate from 31.5.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party (SA) from 1976.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA) from 1976.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (SA) from 1976.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 1984.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (SA) from 1985 to 1990.
• President of the Australian Labor Party (SA), 1988.

Personal

• Born: 6.6.1954, Murray Bridge, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Adelaide).
• Shop assistant at Cleland National Park from 1970 to 1976.
• Mail sorter, 1972.
• Council worker, 1974.
• Waiter, 1975.
• Industrial Officer for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association from 1976 to 1980.
• Assistant Secretary for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association from 1980 to 1993.
• Secretary for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association from 1993 to 2008.
• Founder of Farrell Wines, Clare Valley (SA) from 2014 to 2016.