Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2001 (term began 1.7.2002), 2007, 2013 and 2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 17.11.04 to 11.11.13.

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Publications from 1.7.02 to 1.7.05; Regulations and Ordinances from 1.7.02 to 1.7.05, from 14.2.08 to 11.11.13, from 12.11.15 to 9.5.16 and from 1.9.16 to 1.12.16; Selection of Bills from 12.11.13 to 9.5.16; Procedure from 12.2.15 to 9.5.16; Library from 1.9.16.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References Committee from 1.7.02 to 11.9.06 (Chair from 1.7.05 to 11.9.06) and from 14.5.09 to 11.11.13 and Legislation Committee from 1.12.04 to 11.9.06 and from 14.5.09 to 11.11.13 (Chair from 14.5.09 to 11.11.13); Community Affairs from 11.9.06 to 14.5.09 (Chair from 13.2.08 to 14.5.09); Finance and Public Administration: References Committee from 25.6.03 to 11.9.06 and from 12.2.15 to 9.5.16; Finance and Public Administration from 11.9.06 to 14.5.09; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation and Reference from 1.9.16.
• Senate Select: Lindeberg Grievance from 1.4.04 to 16.11.04; Administration of Indigenous Affairs from 18.11.04 to 8.3.05; Mental Health from 10.3.05 to 28.4.06; Housing Affordability in Australia from 14.2.08 to 16.6.08; Regional and Remote Indigenous Communities from 19.3.08 to 24.9.10; Reform of the Australian Federation from 30.9.10 to 30.6.11; Health from 26.11.15 to 27.11.15.
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit from 1.7.02 to 19.11.02 and from 1.4.04 to 10.5.06; Human Rights from 1.7.14 to 9.5.16 and from 15.9.16; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings from 12.11.15 to 9.5.16.
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1.7.05 to 5.8.13 and from 12.9.16; Parliamentary Library from 27.8.14 to 9.5.16; Parliamentary Library from 10.10.2016.
• Joint Select: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from 22.6.17.

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Minister for Women from 18.10.13 to 23.07.16.
• Shadow Minister for Carers from 18.10.13 to 23.07.16.
• Shadow Minister for Communities from 18.10.13 to 23.07.16.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 12.11.13 to 9.5.16.
• Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific from 23.07.16.

Party positions

• Member, ALP from 1996.

Personal

• Born 19.2.1956, Toowoomba, Qld.
• Single.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Public servant 1980-94.
• State Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union (Qld) 1994-2001.