Biography

Parliamentary service

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

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister from 26.10.2004 to 27.1.2006.
• Special Minister of State from 27.1.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Recent Australian Bushfires served as Chair from 27.3.2003 to 5.11.2003
• House of Representatives Standing: Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Industry, Science and Resources served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Primary Industries and Regional Services served from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Procedure served from 6.11.2000 to 28.11.2000; Procedure served as Chair from 29.11.2000 to 8.10.2001; Economics, Finance and Public Administration served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Science and Innovation served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Select: Retailing Sector served from 8.2.1999 to 30.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 18.6.1996 to 28.4.1997; Electoral Matters served as Chair from 29.4.1997 to 6.11.2000; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Bilateral visits to Sweden and Estonia, October 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and China, November-December 2002.
• Official visit to Sweden and Norway, December 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.03.1996 to 24.11.2007

Party positions

• Member of the Country Liberal Party (NT) from 1987.
• President of the Country Liberal Party (NT) from 1990 to 1994.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Executive from 1990 to 1994.
• Delegate to the National Party Federal Management Committee from 1990 to 1994.
• Member of the Liberal Party (NSW) from 1995.
• Honorary Life Member of the Country Liberal Party (NT) from 1995.

Personal

• Born: 3.1.1951, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSurv (University of New South Wales).
• Graduate surveyor from 1972 to 1975.
• Registered surveyor in private practice from 1975 to 1983.
• Managing director for a surveying and mapping consultancy from 1983 to 1996.

Electorate

• Name: Eden-Monaro
• Location: New South Wales far south coast, the Snowy Mountains and tablelands; it includes the centres of Adaminaby, Batemans Bay, Bega, Berridale, Bodalla, Bombala, Braidwood, Bungendore, Captains Flat, Cooma, Dalmeny, Delegate, Eden, Jindabyne, Merimbula, Moruya, Narooma, Queanbeyan, Sutton and Tathra.
• Area: 30,946 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 92,532 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: Snowy Mountains Scheme (hydro-electric), vegetables, maize, butter, cheese, fish processing, timber mills, beans, dairy cattle, potatoes, wool, sawmills, wood-pulping factories, eucalyptus distillery, defence and tourism.
• Includes: Eden-Monaro includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Bega, Burrinjuck and Monaro.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 8.6.2015.