Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1983. Re-elected 1984, 1987, 1993 and 1998. Retired with the expiration of term 2005.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 13.5.1998 to 30.6.2005.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.2.2002 to 30.3.2004.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Resources from 19.1.1988 to 4.4.1990.
• Minister for Industrial Relations from 4.4.1990 to 24.3.1993.
• Cabinet Minister from 4.4.1990 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Public Service Matters from 4.4.1990 to 24.3.1993.
• Minister for Shipping and Aviation Support from 27.5.1992 to 24.3.1993.
• Minister for Trade from 24.3.1993 to 30.1.1994.
• Minister for Industry, Technology and Regional Development from 30.1.1994 to 25.3.1994.
• Minister for Industry, Science and Technology from 25.3.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Science from 25.3.1994 to 11.3.1996.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 4.9.1997 to 30.6.2005
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Securities served from 31.5.1996 to 4.9.1997
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group A served from 4.5.1983 to 24.3.1987; Estimates Group A served as Chair from 25.3.1987 to 5.6.1987; Estimates Group A served from 6.6.1987 to 18.3.1988
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Constitutional and Legal Affairs served from 21.4.1983 to 20.2.1985; Social Welfare served from 14.9.1983 to 11.9.1985; Industry and Trade served from 11.9.1985 to 5.6.1987; Industry, Science and Technology served from 24.9.1987 to 24.2.1988; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 24.9.1987 to 24.2.1988; Economics: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 4.9.1997; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 2.5.1996 to 18.3.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.5.1996 to 17.6.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.9.1996 to 12.2.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 13.2.1997 to 1.12.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 13.2.1997 to 9.11.1998; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 1.7.1998 to 9.11.1998; Economics: References served from 24.11.1998 to 19.8.2002; Economics: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 10.3.1999; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 18.10.1999 to 22.11.1999; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.10.1999 to 25.10.1999; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 19.8.2002 to 19.8.2002; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 19.8.2002 to 25.3.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served as Chair from 20.8.2002 to 24.3.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 16.10.2003 to 21.6.2004; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 10.2.2005 to 23.6.2005
• Senate Select: New Tax System served from 26.11.1998 to 29.11.1998; New Tax System served as Chair from 30.11.1998 to 30.4.1999; A Certain Maritime Incident served from 14.2.2002 to 19.2.2002; A Certain Maritime Incident served as Chair from 20.2.2002 to 23.10.2002; Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served from 12.2.2004 to 10.3.2004; Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served as Chair from 11.3.2004 to 5.8.2004
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 22.4.1983 to 20.2.1985; Standing Orders served from 4.5.1983 to 25.2.1987; Privileges served from 15.6.1984 to 11.9.1985; House served from 24.9.1987 to 24.2.1988

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, 71st IPU Conference, Geneva, April 1984.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, October-November 1988.
• Official visits to Japan, Indonesia and Europe, January-February 1989.
• Official visits to New Zealand, March 1989.
• Official visits to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, July-August 1989.
• Official visits to Indonesia, December 1989.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, January 1990.
• Official visits to New Zealand, May 1990.
• Official visits to UK and Switzerland, June 1991.
• Official visits to Thailand, November-December 1991.
• Official visits to Japan, January-February 1992.
• Official visits to Switzerland and UK, June 1992.
• Official visits to Canada, USA, Japan and Indonesia, January-February 1993.
• Official visits to ASEAN Nations, April 1993.
• Official visits to UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, USA, June 1993.
• Official visits to Thailand, Japan and Singapore, June-July 1993.
• Official visits to New Zealand, August 1993.
• Official visits to Hong Kong, China and Republic of Korea, September 1993.
• Official visits to Switzerland, Belgium, France and Germany, October 1993.
• Official visits to Japan and Taiwan, October-November 1993.
• Official visits to Japan and USA, November 1993.
• Official visits to Malaysia and Switzerland, December 1993.
• Official visits to Indonesia, June 1994.
• Official visits to Europe, USA and UK, July 1994.
• Official visits to Singapore, October 1994.
• Official visits to China, May 1995.
• Official visits to Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, July 1995.
• Official visits to China, October 1995.
• Visit to the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting, Seattle, USA, November-December 1999.
• Study tour, UK, Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium, March-April 2000.
• Study tour, Hong Kong, October 2000.
• Study tour, India, Portugal and USA, June-July 2001.
• Study tour, Singapore and China, June-July 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the West Indies, February-March 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, Belgium and UK, September 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to South Africa, May 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, May 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Solomon Islands, December 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, April 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Singapore, November 2004.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 05.03.1983 to 30.06.2005
• Shadow Minister for Commerce and Small Business from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Trade from 27.3.1997 to 25.11.2001.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 21.10.1997 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 8.12.2003 to 22.10.2004.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (WA) from May 1970.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Industrial Relations Committee (WA) from 1975 to 1985.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party Federal Conference from 1977.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (WA) from July 1982.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from July 1986.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive Committee from September 1986.

Personal

• Born: 8.11.1943, Melbourne, Australia
• Died: 3.12.2005
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
• Secretary of the Trades and Labour Council (WA).