Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for the Northern Territory 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Retired prior to general elections 2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Community Services from 30.1.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Indigenous Affairs from 18.9.2013 to 29.5.2019.
• Cabinet Minister from 18.9.2013 to 29.5.2019.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 29.11.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Standing: National Capital and External Territories served from 1.7.2002 to 16.8.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 16.8.2005 to 8.2.2007; National Capital and External Territories served from 7.9.2009 to 27.10.2009
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.2.2002 to 16.8.2005; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 1.7.2002 to 31.8.2004; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 29.11.2004 to 14.9.2005; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served as Chair from 15.9.2005 to 23.3.2006
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 10.9.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 14.2.2002 to 16.8.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 16.9.2002 to 14.10.2003; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 25.5.2004 to 25.5.2004; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 11.8.2005 to 16.8.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 11.8.2005 to 16.8.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 8.2.2007
• Senate Select: Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 17.6.2004 to 8.3.2005; Mental Health served from 10.3.2005 to 28.4.2006; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities served from 20.3.2008 to 9.2.2009; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities served as Chair from 10.2.2009 to 24.9.2010
• Senate Standing: Parliamentary Library served from 14.2.2002 to 16.8.2005; Publications served from 28.8.2002 to 16.8.2005; Selection of Bills served from 7.2.2006 to 6.2.2007

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 18.05.2019
• National Party of Australia. Served: 10.11.2001 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 6.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Human Services from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs from 8.12.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Nationals Whip in the Senate from 7.2.2006 to 6.2.2007.
• Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 7.2.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Leader of the Nationals in the Senate from 3.12.2007 to 17.9.2008.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 3.12.2007 to 13.9.2013.
• Leader of the Nationals in the Senate from 13.9.2013 to 30.6.2019.

Party positions

• Member of the Country Liberal Party Management Committee.

Personal

• Born: 4.5.1956, London, England
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• USL Master Class V ().
• Graduate of Australian Rural Leadership Program.
• Professional fisherman and owner/operator of various marine service industries.
• Field assistant, geophysical observer and managerial positions in the mining industry.
• Company director.
• Chair of the Seafood Council (NT) from 1994 to 2001.
• Chair of the Seafood and Maritime Training Advisory Board (NT) from 1994 to 1998.
• Chair of the Australian Seafood Industry Council from 1996 to 2001.
• Deputy Chair of the International Coalition of Fisheries Association, 1998.
• Chair of the International Coalition of Fisheries Association, 1999.