Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2001. Re-elected 2007, 2013 and 2016. Retired at the expiration of term 2019.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Advisory Council on Australian Archives from 12.2.2015 to 30.6.2019.
• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 10.11.2016 to 30.6.2019.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 17.11.2004 to 11.11.2013.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse served from 22.6.2017 to 2.4.2019
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2005 to 5.8.2013; Parliamentary Library served from 27.8.2014 to 9.5.2016; Parliamentary Library served from 30.8.2016 to 30.6.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 12.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.7.2002 to 19.11.2002; Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.4.2004 to 10.5.2006; Human Rights served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 15.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.11.2002 to 2.12.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 6.12.2002 to 6.12.2002; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 9.12.2002 to 5.8.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 25.6.2003 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 1.12.2004 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: References served as Chair from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 10.8.2006 to 7.12.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 12.2.2008; Finance and Public Administration served from 11.9.2006 to 13.5.2009; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served as Substitute member from 11.9.2006 to 7.12.2006; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Substitute member from 19.2.2007 to 22.2.2007; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport served as Substitute member from 1.3.2007 to 16.8.2007; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 10.5.2007 to 11.2.2008; Community Affairs served as Chair from 13.2.2008 to 13.5.2009; Community Affairs: References served from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 14.5.2009 to 11.11.2013; Environment, Communications and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 29.6.2010 to 30.6.2010; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.10.2012 to 16.10.2012; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.5.2013 to 23.5.2013; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 12.2.2015 to 12.11.2015; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.3.2015 to 27.3.2015; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.8.2015 to 10.11.2015; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 20.8.2015 to 16.9.2015; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.2.2016 to 12.2.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 10.3.2016 to 10.3.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.9.2016 to 30.6.2019
• Senate Select: Lindeberg Grievance served from 1.4.2004 to 15.11.2004; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 18.11.2004 to 28.11.2004; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served as Chair from 29.11.2004 to 8.3.2005; Mental Health served from 10.3.2005 to 28.4.2006; Housing Affordability in Australia served from 14.2.2008 to 16.6.2008; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities served from 19.3.2008 to 24.9.2010; Reform of the Australian Federation served from 30.9.2010 to 30.6.2011; Health served as Substitute member from 12.3.2015 to 12.3.2015; Health served from 26.11.2015 to 5.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.7.2002 to 1.7.2005; Publications served from 1.7.2002 to 1.7.2005; Regulations and Ordinances served from 14.2.2008 to 11.11.2013; Selection of Bills served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Procedure served from 12.2.2015 to 9.5.2016; Regulations and Ordinances served from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Regulations and Ordinances served from 1.9.2016 to 1.12.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Minister for Women from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Carers from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Communities from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1996.

Personal

• Born: 19.2.1956, Toowoomba, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Public servant from 1980 to 1994.
• Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (Qld) from 1994 to 2001.