Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 25.8.2005 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice S Mackay (resigned). Elected 2007 Re-elected 2013 and 2016, 2019 and 2025.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.2.2008 to 28.9.2010.
• Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.7.2019 to 26.7.2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport from 1.6.2022 to 29.7.2024.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Parliamentary Standards served from 28.7.2022 to 29.11.2022
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 12.9.2005 to 17.10.2007; Electoral Matters served from 14.2.2008 to 5.8.2013; National Broadband Network served from 23.3.2011 to 21.6.2012; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 9.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Electoral Matters served from 14.5.2015 to 9.5.2016; Electoral Matters served from 12.9.2016 to 1.12.2016; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 11.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; Electoral Matters served from 8.2.2017 to 11.4.2019; National Capital and External Territories served from 22.7.2019 to 31.7.2019; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 25.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; National Disability Insurance Scheme served as Deputy Chair from 25.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 1.8.2019 to 11.4.2022; Electoral Matters served from 13.8.2024 to 21.8.2024; Electoral Matters served as Chair from 21.8.2024 to 28.3.2025; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 24.7.2025 to present; Parliamentary Library served from 24.7.2025 to present
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 14.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 30.9.2010 to 21.6.2012; Human Rights served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Parliamentary Standards served from 30.7.2025 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 13.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 13.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: References served from 15.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration served from 11.9.2006 to 1.7.2008; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 27.3.2009 to 27.3.2009; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 7.4.2009 to 7.4.2009; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 9.5.2016; Community Affairs: References served from 14.5.2009 to 25.2.2013; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.6.2010 to 15.6.2010; Community Affairs: References served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 17.3.2014 to 21.3.2014; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 1.3.2016 to 13.4.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.5.2018 to 23.5.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.10.2018 to 22.10.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 20.8.2024 to 21.7.2025; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 20.8.2024 to 21.7.2025; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 20.8.2024 to 21.7.2025; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 22.7.2025 to present
• Senate Select: Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 8.3.2016 to 8.3.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 21.3.2016 to 30.4.2016; Autism served from 5.12.2019 to 24.2.2021; Autism served as Deputy Chair from 25.2.2021 to 25.3.2022
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 13.9.2005 to 1.7.2011; Publications served from 14.2.2008 to 19.3.2008; Publications served as Chair from 20.3.2008 to 11.11.2013; Selection of Bills served from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 6.3.2014 to 1.7.2014; House served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; House served from 1.9.2016 to 1.6.2022; Publications served from 28.7.2022 to present; Publications served from 28.7.2022 to present; Senators' Interests served from 22.7.2025 to present; Privileges served from 22.7.2025 to 31.7.2025; Privileges served as Deputy Chair from 31.7.2025 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 25.08.2005 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Tasmania from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 27.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Assistant Secretary for Education and Training in the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).
• Acting Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.), 2000.

Other positions

• Member of the Parliamentary Group on Population Development.
• Deputy Convener of Parliamentary Friends of Parkinson's.
• Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Arthritis.
• Deputy Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
• Member of the Parliamentary Antarctic Alliance.
• Member of Emily's List.

Personal

• Born: 19.7.1963, Hobart, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Partner

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Administrative Officer for the Australian Labor Party from 1984 to 1996.
• Adviser to Senator S Mackay from 1996 to 1998.
• Portfolio Services Manager at the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Tas.) from 1998 to 2002.
• Adviser/Office Manager to the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment (Tas.) from 2002 to 2004.
• Adviser/Office Manager to the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (Tas.) from 2004 to 2005.