Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria 1990. Re-elected 1996 and 2001. Retired with the expiration of term 2008.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Security from 11.3.1996 to 14.10.1996.
• Assistant Treasurer from 14.10.1996 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister for the Arts and Sport from 26.11.2001 to 30.1.2007.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 24.8.1990 to 19.8.1993
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group D served from 24.8.1990 to 3.5.1993; Estimates Group E served as Substitute member from 20.8.1992 to 8.2.1993; Estimates Group A served from 6.5.1993 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 24.8.1990 to 18.8.1993; Finance and Public Administration served from 17.9.1990 to 9.10.1994; Community Affairs served as Substitute member from 20.6.1994 to 20.6.1994; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.2.1995 to 9.2.1995; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 2.5.1996 to 17.10.1996; Community Affairs: References served from 2.5.1996 to 22.8.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.9.1996 to 9.10.1996; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 12.2.2007 to 10.9.2007; Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 12.2.2008 to 30.6.2008
• Senate Select: Political Broadcasts and Political Disclosures Bill served from 16.8.1991 to 28.11.1991; Victorian Casino Inquiry served from 20.5.1996 to 15.10.1996
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 2.5.1996 to 14.10.1996; Privileges served from 23.3.2007 to 10.9.2007

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to USA, April-May 1997.
• Official visits to Japan, July-August 1997.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, October-November 1997.
• Official visits to France, Switzerland and Singapore, April-May 1998.
• Official visits to Fiji, July 1998.
• Official visits to USA, October 1998.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, March 2000.
• Official visits to USA, April 2000.
• Official visits to Niue, July 2000.
• Official visits to Czech Republic, September 2000.
• Official visits to USA, February 2002.
• Official visits to Malaysia, April 2002.
• Official visits to UK, July-August 2002.
• Official visits to China and Russia, December 2002.
• Official visits to Denmark, February-March 2003.
• Official visits to Greece, August and September 2004.
• Official visits to China and Japan, July 2005.
• Official visits to France, October 2005.
• Official visits to Italy, February 2006.
• Official visits to Germany and the Netherlands, June 2006.
• Official visits to New Zealand, September 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA, September-November 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.1990 to 30.06.2008
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition from 28.4.1992 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Senate Liaison from 28.4.1992 to 23.5.1992.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Administrative Services from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for the Australian Capital Territory from 25.9.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Public Administration from 25.9.1994 to 10.3.1995.
• Shadow Minister for the Environment from 10.3.1995 to 11.3.1996.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 30.4.1996 to 6.11.1996.

Party positions

• Treasurer of the Liberal Club (University of Melbourne), 1965.
• President of the Liberal Party Kew North Branch (Vic.) from 1967 to 1968.

Other positions

• Senior Private Secretary to the Dame Margaret Guilfoyle from 1977 to 1982.
• Principal Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition, Hon A Peacock, 1989.

Personal

• Born: 21.12.1944, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BCom (University of Melbourne).
• Director of the Institute of Public Affairs from 1982 to 1989.

Publications

• International tribunals and the attack on Australian democracy, Samuel Griffith Society, Brisbane: 1994.
• Speaking for Australia: parliamentary speeches that shaped our nation, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW: 2004.