Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2010. Re-elected 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 10.5.2012 to 11.11.2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Rural Health from 20.12.2017 to 28.8.2018.
• Minister for Sport from 20.12.2017 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Regional Communications from 20.12.2017 to 28.8.2018.
• Cabinet Minister from 20.12.2017 to 2.2.2020.
• Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Decentralisation from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Agriculture from 29.5.2019 to 2.2.2020.
• Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: DisabilityCare Australia served from 19.6.2013 to 5.8.2013; Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 2.12.2013 to 25.6.2015
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2011 to 5.8.2013; Treaties served as Deputy Chair from 12.9.2012 to 5.8.2013; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 2.12.2013 to 3.3.2014; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 5.2.2018
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Public Accounts and Audit served from 12.9.2016 to 6.2.2018; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 12.9.2016 to 15.9.2016; Intelligence and Security served from 13.9.2016 to 20.12.2017; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Chair from 15.9.2016 to 20.12.2017
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2011 to 1.11.2012; Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2011 to 22.11.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.7.2011 to 20.9.2012; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.7.2011 to 20.9.2012; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 23.8.2011 to 11.11.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 23.8.2011 to 20.9.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 17.2.2012 to 17.2.2012; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 23.8.2012 to 23.8.2012; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 22.11.2012 to 11.11.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 12.3.2013 to 14.5.2013; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 20.6.2013 to 27.6.2013; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 13.11.2013; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: References served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 14.11.2013 to 10.2.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 11.2.2014 to 26.6.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 26.6.2014 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 31.10.2014 to 31.10.2014; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.11.2014 to 20.11.2014; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 10.8.2015 to 23.2.2016; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 25.2.2016 to 17.3.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 5.4.2016 to 5.4.2016; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Education and Employment: References served from 1.9.2016 to 17.8.2017; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Education and Employment: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 1.9.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 22.6.2017 to 5.2.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 22.6.2017 to 5.2.2018; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.11.2017 to 25.11.2017; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 1.8.2023 to present
• Senate Select: School Funding served from 12.12.2013 to 3.3.2014; School Funding served from 18.3.2014 to 9.7.2014; School Funding Investment served from 4.2.2016 to 9.5.2016; Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements served as Chair from 6.9.2023 to present
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Selection of Bills served from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Privileges served from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Publications served from 13.11.2013 to 11.12.2013; Publications served as Chair from 12.12.2013 to 30.6.2014; Publications served from 1.7.2014 to 1.7.2014; Senators' Interests served from 1.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Privileges served from 1.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 1.8.2022 to present; Procedure served from 1.8.2022 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 01.07.2011 to present
• Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development from 5.6.2022.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 5.6.2022.
• The Nationals Party Whip in the Senate from 12.11.2013 to 30.6.2014.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 7.12.2017 to 2.2.2020.
• Leader of the Nationals in the Senate from 2.7.2019.

Party positions

• Junior Vice-President of The Nationals (Vic.) from 2006 to 2009.

Personal

• Born: 27.12.1969, Alexandra, Australia
• Gender: Female

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BT(Sec) (Deakin University).
• BAppSc (Deakin University).
• Secondary mathematics and physical education teacher from 2005 to 2009.
• Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Gippsland Campus, Monash University from 2009 to 2010.

Publications

• John McEwen: right man, right place, right time, Connor Court Publishing, Redland Bay, Qld: 2020.