Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 2.5.2012 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Adams (deceased). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2016. Re-elected 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Advisory Council on Australian Archives from 26.7.2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 19.9.2018 to 12.2.2019.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.7.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Northern Australia served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Trade and Investment Growth served from 25.9.2014 to 9.5.2016; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 11.11.2019 to 4.12.2019; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served as Chair from 5.12.2019 to 1.12.2021; Northern Australia served from 4.8.2022 to present
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 9.5.2012 to 1.7.2014; National Broadband Network served from 10.9.2012 to 5.8.2013; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 2.12.2013 to 1.7.2014; Northern Australia served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; National Broadband Network served from 15.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 22.6.2017 to 15.10.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 16.10.2018 to 24.10.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 25.10.2018 to 1.7.2019; Migration served from 22.7.2019 to 14.10.2019; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 22.7.2019 to 13.5.2021; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 1.8.2022 to 8.9.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.8.2022 to present; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served as Deputy Chair from 8.9.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 9.5.2012 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 20.8.2012 to 4.12.2013; Human Rights served as Chair from 5.12.2013 to 4.3.2015; Public Works served from 2.3.2015 to 4.3.2015; Human Rights served from 4.3.2015 to 9.5.2016; Public Works served as Chair from 5.3.2015 to 9.5.2016; Public Works served from 12.9.2016 to 22.3.2018; Public Accounts and Audit served as Chair from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 13.2.2019 to 1.7.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References served from 9.5.2012 to 1.7.2014; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 9.5.2012 to 4.2.2016; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 23.2.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 13.11.2013 to 23.2.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 2.12.2013; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 8.7.2014 to 29.10.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 12.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Economics: Legislation served from 23.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served from 23.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 9.2.2017 to 21.3.2018; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 3.4.2017 to 3.4.2017; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.8.2022 to 18.3.2024; Economics: References served from 1.8.2022 to present; Economics: Legislation served from 1.8.2022 to present
• Senate Select: National Broadband Network served from 2.12.2013 to 4.2.2016; Abbott Government's Commission of Audit served from 12.12.2013 to 19.6.2014; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served from 17.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Red Tape served from 24.11.2016 to 17.8.2017; Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill served from 1.12.2016 to 15.2.2017; Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates served from 1.12.2016 to 28.11.2017; National Integrity Commission served from 15.2.2017 to 13.9.2017; Lending to Primary Production Customers served from 22.6.2017 to 17.8.2017; Electric Vehicles served from 27.6.2018 to 30.1.2019; Effectiveness of the Australian Government's Northern Australia Agenda served from 24.7.2019 to 28.4.2021; Cost of Living served from 25.10.2022 to present; Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance served as Chair from 22.6.2023 to present; Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements served from 6.9.2023 to 9.10.2023; Supermarket Prices served from 7.12.2023 to 26.2.2024
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; House served from 14.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 14.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 1.9.2016 to 10.9.2018; Privileges served from 1.9.2016 to 25.7.2022; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 22.6.2017 to 13.2.2019; House served from 10.9.2018 to 25.7.2022; Selection of Bills served from 10.9.2018 to 25.7.2022; Procedure served from 13.2.2019 to 25.7.2022; Senators' Interests served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Publications served from 2.7.2019 to 14.10.2019; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Scrutiny of Bills served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.05.2012 to present
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury from 5.6.2022.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 13.10.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 30.8.2016 to 21.1.2019.
• Chief Government Whip in the Senate from 22.1.2019 to 26.7.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party (WA) from 1987.
• President of the Young Liberal Movement (WA) from 1990 to 1991.
• Member of the Young Liberal Movement Federal Executive from 1990 to 1991.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (WA) from 1990 to 1994.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (WA) from 2007 to 2017.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (WA) from 2007 to 2012.
• Treasurer of the Liberal Party (WA) from 2008 to 2012.
• Member of the Liberal Party Management Executive (WA) from 2008 to 2012.
• Delegate to the Liberal Party Federal Council from 2008 to 2012.
• Patron of the Young Liberal Movement from 2013.
• Vice-Patron of the Young Liberal Movement (WA) from 2013.

Personal

• Born: 15.5.1969, Perth, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• GradDipFinServ (Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance).
• BA(Hons) (University of Western Australia).
• Manager of Parliamentary and Policy for the Liberal Party Federal Secretariat from 1996 to 1998.
• Principal Policy Adviser to the Premier (WA) from 1998 to 2001.
• Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister from September to October 1998.
• Chief of Staff to the Minister for Ageing from 2001 to 2002.
• Special Adviser to the Minister for Justice and Customs, 2002.
• General Manager for Government Relations at IAG from 2002 to 2004.
• Head of Insurance Strategy at IAG from 2004 to 2005.
• General Manager of Government Affairs at SingTel Optus from 2005 to 2009.
• Owner of Smith&Duda Consulting from 2011 to 2012.

Honours

• Received the Distinguished Service Award, Liberal Party of Australia, 2011.