Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Franklin, 2002. Resigned 2.8.2015 to become Senator for Tasmania.
• Federal: Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 19.8.2015 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice C Milne (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2016. Re-elected 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Migration served from 12.9.2016 to 25.3.2024; National Broadband Network served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights served from 10.9.2015 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Human Rights served from 2.7.2019 to 6.10.2020; Corporations and Financial Services served from 6.10.2020 to 31.7.2023
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 10.9.2015 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 3.3.2016 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 19.4.2016 to 4.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 30.8.2016 to 8.12.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 2.7.2019 to 6.10.2020; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 24.6.2021 to 25.7.2022; Economics: Legislation served from 26.7.2022 to present; Economics: References served from 26.7.2022 to present; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.2.2023 to 31.8.2023
• Senate Select: School Funding Investment served from 4.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Supermarket Prices served as Chair from 7.12.2023 to present
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 9.8.2017 to present; Procedure served from 26.8.2021 to 25.7.2022; Selection of Bills served from 26.7.2022 to present; Scrutiny of Bills served from 26.7.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 19.08.2015 to present
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Attorney-General; Schools; Innovation, Competition Policy and Small Business from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Attorney General; Immigration and Citizenship; Small Business from 25.8.2016 to 5.7.2019.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Justice, Immigration and Citizenship and Digital Rights and Information Technology from 5.7.2019 to 9.9.2020.
• Co-Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Greens from 4.2.2020 to 10.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Treasury, Finance and Economic Justice, Immigration and Citizenship, Digital Rights, IT and NBN from 9.9.2020 to 17.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Whip in the Senate from 18.10.2021.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Economic Justice, Treasury, Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 17.6.2022 to 25.3.2024.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Economic Justice and Treasury, Emergency Management and Forests from 25.3.2024.

Personal

• Born: 11.6.1965, London, England
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Partner

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Organic market gardener, shepherd, remote area mineral exploration, fruit picker to 1999.
• Wilderness Guide from 1995 to 1999.
• Advertising and Public Administration from 1999 to 2002.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Franklin, 2002. Resigned 2.8.2015 to become Senator for Tasmania.
• Leader, Tasmanian Greens from 7.7.2008 to 2014.
• Minister for Human Services from 21.4.2010 to 6.12.2010.
• Minister for Community Development from 21.4.2010 to 6.12.2010.
• Minister for Sustainable Transport and Alternative Energy from 21.4.2010 to 13.5.2011.
• Minister for Climate Change from 21.4.2010 to 13.5.2011.
• Minister for Corrections and Consumer Protection from 21.4.2010 to 17.1.2014.
• Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from 6.12.2010 to 13.5.2011.
• Minister for Education and Skills from 13.5.2011 to 17.1.2014.
• Minister for Sustainable Transport from 13.5.2011 to 17.1.2014.