Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Burke, Victoria, 2001. Elected to the House of Representatives for Gorton, Victoria, 2004, following electoral redistribution. Re-elected 2007 and 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022. Retired prior to general elections 2025.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Employment Participation from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
• Minister for Home Affairs from 9.6.2009 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Justice from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information from 14.9.2010 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Human Services from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister Assisting for School Education from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister for Housing from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
• Minister for Homelessness from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
• Minister for Small Business from 5.3.2012 to 4.2.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 5.3.2012 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 4.2.2013 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister for Employment from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Skills and Training from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.
• Minister for Skills and Training from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Employment and Workplace Relations served from 16.2.2004 to 31.8.2004; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served as Deputy Chair from 2.12.2004 to 7.12.2006; Employment, Workplace Relations and Workforce Participation served from 8.12.2006 to 17.10.2007; Education and Employment served from 26.3.2015 to 9.5.2016; Employment, Education and Training served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 27.3.2006 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.8.2024 to 28.3.2025
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 12.8.2024 to 28.3.2025

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 18.10.2013 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Special Minister of State from 2.3.2016 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Industry from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
• Shadow Minister for Science from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
• Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business from 2.6.2019 to 28.1.2021.
• Shadow Minister for Defence from 28.1.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Government Service Delivery Caucus Committee from 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Social Policy Caucus Committee from 2002.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Economic Development and Living Standards Caucus Committee from 2002.
• Chair of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party Industrial Relations Taskforce from 2005.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.) from 1986.
• President of the Australian Labor Party St Kilda Branch (Vic.) from 1988 to 1989.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Melton Branch (Vic.) from 2000 to 2001.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 2000.

Personal

• Born: 2.3.1962, London, England
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Monash University).
• LLB (Monash University).
• Diploma, Harvard Trade Union Program.
• Union official from 1986 to 2001.
• Assistant Secretary of the Australian Services Union from 1993 to 2001.

Electorate

• Name: Gorton
• Location: The Division of Gorton consists of: Melton City Council, and part of Brimbank City Council.
• Area: 540 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 110,416 (at 12.6.2019)
• Industries: Harness racing, horse training and breeding facilities, retail, construction, health care, transport and warehousing.