Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Casey, Victoria, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Speaker of the House of Representatives from 10.8.15.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister from 30.1.07 to 3.12.07.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Ageing from 20.3.02 to 31.8.04; Science and Innovation from 20.3.02 to 31.8.04; Education and Training from 11.3.08 to 10.11.08; Economics from 25.9.08 to 3.2.10 and from 13.9.11 to 7.2.12; Communications from 3.2.10 to 19.7.10; Appropriations and Administration (Chair) from 10.8.15 to 9.5.16 and from 1.9.16; House (Chair) from 10.8.15 to 9.5.16 and from 1.9.16; Selection (Chair) from 10.8.15 to 9.5.16 and from 1.9.16.
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit from 7.2.06 (Chair from 7.2.06) to 6.2.07 and from 4.12.13 to 18.3.14; Corporations and Financial Services from 25.10.10 to 7.9.15; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings (Chair) from 10.8.15 to 9.5.16.
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters from 1.12.04 to 7.2.06 (Chair from 6.12.04 to 7.2.06) and from 4.12.13 to 7.9.15 (Chair from 24.2.14 to 7.9.15).
• Joint Select: Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation from 15.9.11 to 7.10.11.

Parliamentary party positions

• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 6.12.07 to 14.9.10. Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training from 6.12.07 to 22.9.08; Shadow Assistant Treasurer from 22.9.08 to 8.12.09; Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy from 8.12.09 to 14.9.10.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Tax Reform from 14.9.10 to 18.9.13.
• Deputy Chairman, Coalition Policy Development Committee from 14.9.10 to 18.9.13.

Party positions

• President, Melbourne University Liberal Club 1988.
• President, Victorian Liberal Students Association 1989.
• President, Liberal Party Box Hill North Branch 1990-95.
• Delegate, Liberal Party State Council 1990-2001.

Personal

• Born 13.3.1967, Melbourne, Vic.
• Married.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA(Hons), BComm (Melb).
• Research Assistant, Institute of Public Affairs 1989-90.
• Media Adviser to the Hon. P Costello, MP 1990-98.
• Senior Political Adviser to the Treasurer, the Hon P Costello, MP 1998-2001.

Electorate

Description: rural.
Location: eastern Melbourne; it includes the suburbs and towns of Bayswater North (part), Chirnside Park, Coldstream, Croydon (part), Croydon South (part), Dixons Creek, Don Valley, Gladysdale, Gruyere, Healesville, Hoddles Creek, Kallista, Kalorama, Kilsyth, Kilsyth South, Launching Place, Lilydale, Millgrove, Monbulk, Montrose (part), Mooroolbark, Mount Evelyn, Powelltown, Reefton, Seville, Seville East, Silvan, Wandin, Wandin East, Warburton, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Yarra Glen, Yarra Junction and Yellingbo.
Area: 2 337 sq km.
Electors enrolled: 102 908 (at 2.7.16).
Industries: market gardens, orchards, nurseries, flower farms, vineyards, forestry and timber, tourism, light manufacturing and engineering.