Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Blair, Queensland, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Petitions served from 19.2.2008 to 17.6.2009; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 17.6.2009 to 11.2.2010; Health and Ageing served from 11.2.2010 to 19.7.2010; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 23.4.2013; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 25.10.2010 to 14.5.2013; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 24.4.2013 to 5.8.2013; Indigenous Affairs served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 28.7.2022 to 2.8.2022; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 28.7.2022 to present; Procedure served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to present
• Joint Select: Gambling Reform served from 21.10.2010 to 13.2.2013; Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 4.12.2013 to 25.6.2015; Northern Australia served from 5.9.2022 to present; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum served from 30.3.2023 to 12.5.2023
• Joint Standing: Migration served from 15.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Electoral Matters served from 28.7.2022 to present; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 28.7.2022 to 2.8.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Public Accounts and Audit served from 6.2.2013 to 14.5.2013

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.11.2007 to present
• Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Ageing from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Northern Australia from 4.5.2016 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Immigration and Border Protection from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1983.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Raceview Flinders Branch (Qld) from 1990.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Ipswich State Electorate Council (Qld) from 1995 to 2008.
• Campaign Director of the Australian Labor Party for Ipswich from 1998 to 2007.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Qld) from 2000 to 2008.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Rules Committee (Qld) from 2002 to 2008.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference from 2004 to 2007.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Qld) from 2005 to 2008.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Qld) from 2022.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2023.

Personal

• Born: 26.8.1961, Ipswich, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Queensland).
• LLB (University of Queensland).
• Lawyer from 1985 to 2007.

Electorate

• Name: Blair
• Location: The Division of Blair consists of: part of the Brisbane City Council, part of the Ipswich City Council, part of the Scenic Rim Regional Council, and part of the Somerset Regional Council.
• Area: 6,472 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 113,520 (at 6.6.2019)
• Industries: Dairy and beef cattle farming, small crop production, commercial, construction and infrastructure industries, tourism and defence.