Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Cowper, New South Wales, 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Retired prior to general elections 2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Employment from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister for Vocational Education and Skills from 21.9.2015 to 18.2.2016.
• Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 19.7.2016 to 20.12.2017.
• Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment from 20.12.2017 to 5.3.2018.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Address in Reply served from 12.2.2002 to 13.2.2002
• House of Representatives Standing: Ageing served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Education and Vocational Training served as Chair from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Privileges served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Procedure served from 31.5.2005 to 17.10.2007; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.3.2008 to 10.11.2008; Economics served from 3.2.2010 to 19.7.2010; Tax and Revenue served from 27.3.2018 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Standing: National Broadband Network served from 22.3.2011 to 5.8.2013; Treaties served as Chair from 22.2.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Financial Services served from 3.2.2010 to 19.7.2010

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 11.04.2019
• National Party of Australia. Served: 10.11.2001 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Minister for Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House from 6.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs from 22.9.2008 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law from 8.12.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Shadow Minister for Youth and Sport from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Communications from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 18.9.2013 to 18.2.2016.

Party positions

• Member of the Nationals Central Council (NSW) from 2001 to 2016.

Personal

• Born: 28.4.1959, Muswellbrook, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• AssocDipVal ().
• BCom (University of Newcastle).
• FCPA (Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants).
• Small business operator.
• Founding Board Member of Coffs Coast Tourism.

Electorate

• Name: Cowper
• Location: New South Wales north coast; it includes the centres of Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour; the main towns of Bellingen, Bowraville, Coffs Harbour, Crescent Head, Dorrigo, Gladstone, Hat Head, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Sawtell, South West Rocks, Port Macquarie, Ulong and Urunga.
• Area: 7,296 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 118,260 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: fishing, forestry, agriculture, bananas, dairy cattle and tourism.
• Includes: