Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1975. Re-elected 1977, 1983, 1987 and 1993. Retired with the expiration of term 1999.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Australian National University Council from 18.7.1986 to 31.12.1991.
• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 22.9.1987 to 26.3.1997.
• Member of the Australian National University Council from 11.3.1992 to 10.3.1996.
• Member of the Australian National University Council from 17.7.1996 to 14.3.1997.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 22.8.1978 to 21.8.1990.
• Deputy President of the Senate from 21.8.1990 to 16.8.1993.
• Acting President of the Senate from 13.9.1990 to 25.9.1990.
• Acting President of the Senate from 15.3.1991 to 5.4.1991.
• Acting President of the Senate from 18.7.1991 to 21.7.1991.
• Acting President of the Senate from 26.7.1991 to 2.8.1991.
• Acting President of the Senate from 17.10.1991 to 6.11.1991.
• Acting President of the Senate from 3.1.1992 to 24.1.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 7.3.1992 to 13.3.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 13.4.1992 to 2.5.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 17.9.1992 to 17.9.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 3.10.1992 to 10.10.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 20.10.1992 to 4.11.1992.
• Acting President of the Senate from 12.1.1993 to 16.1.1993.
• Acting President of the Senate from 17.4.1993 to 30.4.1993.
• Acting President of the Senate from 25.7.1993 to 4.8.1993.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.8.1993 to 20.8.1996.
• Deputy President of the Senate from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997.
• Chairman of Committees from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997.
• Acting President of the Senate from 20.9.1996 to 6.10.1996.
• Acting President of the Senate from 1.4.1997 to 6.5.1997.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 22.8.1978 to 19.9.1980; New Parliament House served from 1.7.1981 to 19.2.1990; Australian Capital Territory served from 9.9.1981 to 4.2.1983; Parliamentary Zone served from 12.11.1991 to 8.2.1993; National Capital and External Territories served from 20.5.1993 to 16.8.1993; National Capital and External Territories served from 19.8.1993 to 6.5.1997
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 4.3.1976 to 17.8.1978; Public Accounts served from 1.7.1993 to 29.1.1996
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group D served from 29.4.1976 to 26.8.1976; Estimates Group C served from 26.8.1976 to 20.2.1978; Estimates Group B served from 16.3.1978 to 20.9.1978; Estimates Group A served from 20.9.1978 to 2.4.1981; Estimates Group G served from 2.4.1981 to 26.8.1981; Estimates Group B served from 26.8.1981 to 4.2.1983; Estimates Group D served from 4.5.1983 to 11.5.1983; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 12.5.1983 to 16.4.1985; Estimates Group E served from 16.4.1985 to 17.4.1985; Estimates Group E served as Chair from 18.4.1985 to 22.8.1985; Estimates Group D served from 22.8.1985 to 11.9.1985; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 12.9.1985 to 20.3.1986; Estimates Group D served from 24.9.1987 to 7.10.1987; Estimates Group D served as Chair from 8.10.1987 to 29.9.1988; Estimates Group F served as Chair from 29.9.1988 to 7.5.1990; Estimates Group E served from 9.5.1990 to 14.5.1990; Estimates Group E served as Chair from 15.5.1990 to 24.8.1990; Estimates Group D served from 1.7.1993 to 7.11.1993; Estimates Group D served from 15.11.1993 to 8.2.1994; Estimates Group F served from 8.2.1994 to 9.2.1994; Estimates Group F served as Chair from 10.2.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Science and the Environment served from 5.5.1976 to 17.8.1978; Education and the Arts served from 17.8.1978 to 27.8.1981; Education and the Arts served from 21.4.1983 to 21.4.1983; Education and the Arts served as Chair from 22.4.1983 to 5.6.1987; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 1.12.1988 to 7.5.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 11.5.1990 to 30.6.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served as Chair from 1.7.1990 to 23.8.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 24.8.1990 to 24.8.1990; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 2.5.1996 to 17.10.1996; Community Affairs: References served from 8.5.1996 to 10.9.1996
• Senate Select: Education of Gifted and Talented Children served as Chair from 22.9.1987 to 18.5.1988; Legislation Procedures served as Chair from 31.8.1988 to 1.12.1988; Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Australia served from 3.11.1988 to 29.11.1988; Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Australia served as Chair from 30.11.1988 to 23.8.1990
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 19.5.1976 to 14.4.1986; Regulations and Ordinances served from 4.12.1980 to 27.8.1981; Disputed Returns and Qualifications served from 4.5.1983 to 5.6.1987; Publications served from 4.5.1983 to 11.9.1985; Appropriations and Staffing served from 11.5.1990 to 29.4.1996; Regulations and Ordinances served from 11.5.1990 to 13.5.1990; House served from 11.5.1990 to 9.10.1994; Procedure served from 11.5.1990 to 3.5.1993; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 14.5.1990 to 17.10.1990; Regulations and Ordinances served from 18.10.1990 to 29.9.1993; Scrutiny of Bills served from 17.8.1993 to 17.8.1993; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 18.8.1993 to 10.10.1994; Regulations and Ordinances served as Chair from 30.9.1993 to 29.4.1996; Senators' Interests served as Chair from 24.3.1994 to 9.10.1994; Senators' Interests served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; House served as Chair from 10.10.1994 to 1.12.1994; Scrutiny of Bills served from 11.10.1994 to 8.5.1996; Regulations and Ordinances served from 30.4.1996 to 9.11.1998; Publications served from 2.5.1996 to 12.3.1998; House served from 2.5.1996 to 19.8.1996; House served as Chair from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997; Procedure served as Chair from 20.8.1996 to 6.5.1997

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, 23rd CPA Conference, Canada, September 1977.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to Japan, July 1978.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegations to North America and Mexico, July 1980.
• Overseas study visits to Fiji, November 1980.
• Overseas study visits to New Zealand, December 1979-January 1980.
• Overseas study visits to United Kingdom, July 1980.
• Overseas study visits to USA, July 1982.
• Overseas study visits to United Kingdom, June 1984.
• Overseas study visits to Belgium, July 1984.
• Overseas study visits to Denmark, June 1984.
• Overseas study visits to France, July 1984.
• Overseas study visits to Germany, June 1984.
• Member, 7th Australasian and Pacific Regional Parliamentary Seminar, Canberra and Tonga, October 1984.
• Overseas study visits to Singapore, July 1984.
• Leader, IPU 10+ Meeting, Madrid, Spain, March 1985.
• 73rd IPU Conference, Lome, Togo, March 1985.
• 74th IPU Conference, Ottawa, Canada, September 1985.
• Overseas study visits to United Kingdom, September 1985.
• Overseas study visits to USA, August 1985.
• Overseas study visits to USA, June 1986.
• 75th IPU Conference, Mexico City, Mexico, April 1986.
• 76th IPU Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 1986.
• IPU 12+ Meeting, West Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, April 1987.
• 77th IPU Conference, Managua, Nicaragua, April-May 1987.
• Leader, Observer Delegation, 9th General Assembly AIPO, Kuala Lumpur, January 1988.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the Middle East, June 1988.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, June-July 1988.
• Member, 20th Regional Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks, Western Samoa, June 1989.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to South Pacific, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Western Samoa, July-August 1989.
• Overseas study visits to Tahiti, January-February 1990.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Turkey, April-May 1990.
• Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the UK and Austria, June-July 1991.
• Overseas study visits to Ireland, June 1991.
• Member, 22nd Regional Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks, Solomon Islands, July 1991.
• Overseas study visits to Singapore, July 1991.
• Member, 23rd Regional Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks, Adelaide, June 1992.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, November 1992.
• Overseas study visits to New Zealand, February 1992.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to 13th General Assembly of AIPO, Jakarta, Indonesia, and bilateral visits to Thailand and Papua New Guinea, from September-October 1992.
• Overseas study visits to Japan, December 1993.
• 89th IPU Conference, New Delhi, India, April 1993.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, April 1993.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, July 1994.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, January 1995.
• Overseas study visits to Thailand, April 1995.
• Overseas study visits to United Kingdom, April (Jersey and Guernsey) 1995.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA and Canada, March-April 1995.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 13.12.1975 to 20.08.1996
• Independent. Served: 20.08.1996 to 30.06.1999

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Central Executive (Qld.) from 1971 to 1978.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (Qld) from 1983 to 1996.

Personal

• Born: 5.4.1938, Brisbane, Australia
• Died: 23.8.2003
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• AEd ().
• MAPS (Australian Psychological Society).
• BA ().
• BEd(Hons) (University of Queensland).
• PhD (University of Queensland).
• Teacher.
• Research officer.
• Psychological consultant.

Military Service

• Member of the Army reserve from 1964 to 1979.
• Army reserve full-time duty, New Guinea from 1966 to 1967.
• Rank of Major, from 1970 to 1979.
• Granted military title of Major, 1993.

Publications

• The odd one out: an account of the 1974 Senate elections in Queensland, Colonial Press, Brisbane: 1975.