Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2007. Re-elected 2014 and 2016. Resigned 14.7.2017. (election ruled void 27.10.2017 under section 44 (i) of the Constitution; ruled ineligible from 2.7.2016).

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 13.5.2010 to 7.7.2014.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 17.3.2010 to 19.7.2010; Cyber-Safety served from 25.10.2010 to 24.6.2013; Broadcasting Legislation served from 14.3.2013 to 24.6.2013
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 4.9.2008 to 7.7.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 26.11.2008 to 5.8.2013; National Broadband Network served from 21.3.2011 to 5.8.2013; Treaties served from 30.8.2016 to 14.7.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 14.7.2017; National Broadband Network served from 15.9.2016 to 14.7.2017
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Communications and the Arts served from 1.7.2008 to 13.5.2009; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Substitute member from 3.9.2008 to 14.10.2008; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 4.9.2008 to 13.5.2009; Community Affairs served as Substitute member from 10.11.2008 to 12.11.2008; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 26.11.2008 to 10.3.2009; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Substitute member from 4.12.2008 to 7.12.2009; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 5.7.2011; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment, Communications and the Arts: References served from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 14.5.2009 to 15.6.2009; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 14.5.2009 to 5.7.2011; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.6.2009 to 7.9.2009; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 17.11.2009 to 2.2.2010; Environment and Communications: References served from 30.9.2010 to 5.7.2011; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 5.7.2011; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.10.2010 to 6.10.2011; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.8.2011 to 30.5.2012; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 8.11.2011 to 9.2.2012; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.3.2012 to 22.3.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.3.2012 to 4.5.2012; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.3.2012 to 24.4.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 14.3.2013 to 18.6.2013; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 28.6.2013 to 20.9.2013; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 10.12.2013 to 28.3.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.12.2013 to 17.3.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.12.2013 to 4.3.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 12.12.2013 to 24.3.2015; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 19.2.2014 to 19.2.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.3.2015 to 11.6.2015; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.3.2015 to 29.5.2015; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 25.6.2015 to 29.4.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.12.2015 to 22.2.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 3.3.2016 to 5.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 14.7.2017; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.9.2016 to 24.7.2017; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 16.2.2017 to 20.3.2017
• Senate Select: National Broadband Network served from 10.2.2009 to 17.6.2010; Reform of the Australian Federation served from 21.6.2010 to 30.6.2011; National Broadband Network served from 14.11.2013 to 4.5.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 12.12.2014 to 12.12.2014
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 13.10.2011 to 11.11.2013; Procedure served from 19.6.2012 to 14.8.2012; Privileges served from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges served from 1.9.2016 to 14.7.2017

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 01.07.2008 to 14.07.2017
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy; Housing; Nuclear; Mining (Western Australia); Transport; Infrastructure; Waste and Sustainable Cities; Burma; Assisting on Defence from 1.7.2011 to 1.7.2012.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; Burma; Heritage; Housing, Infrastructure; Mining (WA); Nuclear; Sustainable Cities; Assisting on Defence; Assisting on National Security from 1.7.2012 to 11.11.2013.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; Housing; Nuclear; Infrastructure; Heritage and Sustainable Cities; Assisting Defence Materiel; Assisting on Resources and Energy from 11.11.2013 to 1.7.2014.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Broadband; Communications and the Digital Economy; Defence; Housing and Sustainable Cities; Nuclear from 1.7.2014 to 25.5.2015.
• Co-Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Greens from 6.5.2015 to 14.7.2017.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs; Broadband; Communications and Digital Economy; Housing and Sustainable Cities; Nuclear from 25.5.2015 to 15.9.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs; Broadband and Communications; Housing and Sustainable Cities; Nuclear from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs; Defence and Veterans' Affairs; International Aid and Development; Communications; Sustainable Cities; and Nuclear from 25.8.2016 to 14.7.2017.

Personal

• Born: 10.1.1970, Palmerston North, New Zealand
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Design) (Curtin University).
• GradDipPolicySt (Murdoch University).
• Graphic designer.
• Research officer.
• Electorate officer, Senator RM Siewert.

Publications

• Full circle: a search for the world that comes next, Black Inc., Carlton, Vic.: 2021.