Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Forrest, Western Australia, 1987. Re-elected 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Retired prior to general elections 2007.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs from 11.3.1996 to 18.7.1997.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 8.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Industry, Science and Resources served as Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Industry and Resources served as Chair from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 25.3.1998 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 20.10.1988 to 19.2.1990

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to New Zealand, August 1996.
• Official visits to Hong Kong and Philippines, August-September 1996.
• Parliamentary Adviser, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, September-December 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the West Indies, February-March 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Kuwait, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, July-August 2002.
• Attended the Royal Institute of International Affairs Energy Conference, UK, February 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia, April 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to United Arab Emirates, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, April 2004.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, July 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 11.07.1987 to 17.10.2007
• Shadow Minister for Small Business, Housing and Customs from 11.4.1990 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Manufacturing and Service Industries from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 7.4.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Finance from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.

Party positions

• President of the Liberal Party Bunbury Division (WA) from 1979 to 1982.
• Senior Vice-President of the Liberal Party Bunbury Division (WA) from 1982 to 1984.

Personal

• Born: 6.11.1948, Bunbury, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Self-employed businessman.
• Company director.
• Registered builder.

Local Government service

• Member, Bunbury City Council from 1979 to 1985.

Electorate

• Name: Forrest
• Location: south-west Western Australia; it includes the centres of Augusta, Australind, Bridgetown, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Collie, Donnybrook, Dunsborough, Eaton, Harvey, Manjimup, Margaret River, Nannup, Pemberton, Walpole, Yallingup and Yarloop.
• Area: 21,143 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 87,145 (at 9.10.2004)
• Industries: agriculture (beef and dairy cattle, sheep, fruit and vegetables, wine, flowers), forestry (hard and softwoods, wood chipping) mining (coal, mineral sands, tin and tantalite), fisheries, manufacturing, commerce and tourism.
• Includes: Forrest includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Bunbury, Capel, Leschenault, Vasse, Warren-Blackwood, and parts of Collie-Wellington.