Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Robertson, New South Wales, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001 and 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads from 18.7.2004 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.2004; Family and Community Affairs served from 12.5.1998 to 31.8.1998; Industry, Science and Resources served from 8.12.1998 to 1.9.1999; Publications served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Industry, Science and Resources served as Chair from 2.9.1999 to 17.2.2000; Industry, Science and Resources served from 18.2.2000 to 8.10.2001; Selection served from 26.3.2001 to 18.7.2004; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 26.9.2002 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 20.3.2002 to 12.8.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Study tour, USA and UK, July-August 1999.
• Attended Biennial Conference of the Pacific Community, French Polynesia, and bilateral visits to the Cook Islands and Tonga, November-December 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji and Papua New Guinea, October-November 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji and Samoa, November 2003.
• Official visit to Indonesia, July 2004.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 24.11.2007
• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 26.3.2001 to 23.11.2001.
• Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 23.11.2001 to 18.7.2004.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party from 1983.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (NSW), 1984.
• President of the Liberal Party Berowra Branch (NSW), 1992.
• Member of the Liberal Party Gosford Branch (NSW) from 1994 to 1998.
• Member of the Liberal Party Kariong Branch (NSW) from 1998.

Other positions

• Chair of the IPU for Pacific Island Nations and Papua New Guinea.
• Chair of the IPU for United Arab Emirates.
• Justice of the Peace.

Personal

• Born: 17.7.1954, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• USL Master Class IV (Brookvale Marine College).
• Dairy products distributor from 1973 to 1985.
• Ferry master, 1986.
• Cruise ship master and first officer from 1987 to 1992.
• Marina manager, 1992.
• Service station proprietor from 1993 to 1995.

Electorate

• Name: Robertson
• Location: north of Sydney; it includes the centres of Gosford, Terrigal, Woy Woy and Erina.
• Area: 721 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 94,334 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: tourism, retail, service industries, light manufacturing and processing, citrus, vegetables and flower growing, poultry products.
• Includes: Robertson includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Gosford, Terrigal and The Entrance.