Biography

Parliamentary service

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

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chairman of Committees from 1.5.1996 to 30.6.2005.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 2.6.1994 to 1.7.2002
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group F served from 6.5.1993 to 7.2.1994; Estimates Group F served as Substitute member from 8.2.1994 to 11.5.1994; Estimates Group F served from 12.5.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education and the Arts served from 26.2.1985 to 5.6.1987; Community Affairs served from 24.9.1987 to 18.8.1993; Community Affairs served as Substitute member from 25.8.1994 to 8.10.1994; Community Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 30.6.2005; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.11.1995 to 27.11.1995; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 8.5.1996 to 30.6.2005; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served from 19.6.1996 to 13.2.1997
• Senate Select: Community Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising Electronic Technologies served from 22.5.1996 to 26.6.1997; Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004
• Senate Standing: House served from 26.2.1985 to 18.8.1993; Selection of Bills served from 11.5.1990 to 3.5.1993; House served from 2.5.1996 to 1.7.2002; Privileges served from 2.5.1996 to 22.8.2003; Privileges served from 22.12.2003 to 30.6.2005

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended CPA Annual Group Discussion, London and Isle of Man, May 1985.
• Member, Australian Political Exchange Delegation to Canada, October 1985.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Russia and Ukraine, March-April 1995.
• Member, 99th IPU Conference, Namibia, and bilateral visits to Zimbabwe, Angola and Mozambique, April 1998.
• Leader, 100th IPU Conference, Moscow, September 1998.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Philippines and Japan, May-June 1999.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Singapore, September 2000.
• Member, Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing Committee on Community Affairs visit to UK and Canada, April 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to South Africa, September 2001.
• Parliamentary Adviser, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, September-December 2003.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.12.1984 to 30.06.2005
• Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 14.9.1987 to 7.4.1993.

Party positions

• Life Member of the Young Liberal Movement.
• President of the Young Liberal Movement (WA) from 1977 to 1981.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (WA) from 1977 to 1985.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Council (WA) from 1977.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party (WA) from 1981 to 1983.
• Chairman of the Liberal Party Campaign Committee (WA) from 1982 to 1985.
• Senior Vice-President of the Liberal Party (WA) from 1983 to 1985.

Personal

• Born: 10.4.1951, Brisbane, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Sales/marketing manager.