Speeches Browse all speeches (Hansard) Biography Parliamentary service Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1984. Re-elected 1987, 1990 and 1996. Retired with the expiration of term 2002. Parliamentary positions Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.8.1993 to 30.6.2002. Committee service Joint Select: Migration Regulations served from 14.6.1989 to 19.2.1990; Certain Aspects of the Operation and Interpretation of the Family Law Act served as Chair from 17.4.1991 to 8.2.1993; Certain Family Law Issues served from 18.5.1993 to 17.3.1994Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 28.2.1985 to 12.3.1986; Migration Regulations served from 17.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Migration served as Chair from 18.5.1993 to 30.5.1996; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 31.5.1996 to 13.2.2002; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 6.12.2000 to 6.2.2001; Migration served from 14.2.2002 to 30.6.2002Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 7.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Corporations and Securities served from 10.2.1994 to 17.3.1994Senate Estimates: Estimates Group E served from 16.4.1985 to 22.8.1985; Estimates Group F served from 22.8.1985 to 24.3.1987; Estimates Group E served from 24.3.1987 to 5.6.1987; Estimates Group A served from 29.9.1988 to 9.3.1989; Estimates Group A served from 4.10.1989 to 21.10.1989; Estimates Group C served from 21.9.1990 to 10.10.1990; Estimates Group F served from 11.4.1991 to 9.10.1994; Estimates Group D served from 23.2.1994 to 9.10.1994; Estimates Group B served as Substitute member from 18.3.1994 to 18.3.1994Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Industry and Trade served from 11.9.1985 to 5.6.1987; Education and the Arts served from 11.9.1985 to 18.2.1987; Industry, Science and Technology served from 24.9.1987 to 7.5.1990; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 6.3.1991 to 3.5.1993; Rural and Regional Affairs served from 18.5.1993 to 18.10.1993; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 1.7.1993 to 18.10.1993; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 29.10.1993 to 9.10.1994; Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.10.1993 to 9.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 30.6.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 8.5.1996; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.11.1994 to 15.11.1994; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1994 to 2.12.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 9.5.1996 to 30.6.2002; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 16.2.2001 to 16.2.2001Senate Select: Matters Arising from Pay Television Tendering Processes served from 27.5.1993 to 16.12.1993Senate Standing: Publications served from 26.2.1985 to 20.10.1987; House served from 11.9.1985 to 5.6.1987; Scrutiny of Bills served from 25.2.1987 to 5.6.1987; Publications served as Chair from 21.10.1987 to 29.4.1996; Selection of Bills served from 11.5.1990 to 20.2.1991; Privileges served from 1.7.1993 to 29.4.1996; Senators' Interests served from 24.3.1994 to 29.4.1996; Publications served from 30.4.1996 to 30.6.2002 Conferences, delegations and visits Parliamentary delegation member to the UK and Ireland, April 1988.Parliamentary delegation member to France and Ireland from August to September 1991.Parliamentary delegation member to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from October to November 1993.Attended study tour in Malaysia and Hong Kong, January 1994.Attended study tour in Indonesia, January 1995.Attended study tour in Hong Kong and China, April 1995.Delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meeting, the UK from April to May 1995.Parliamentary delegation member to France, Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea from June to July 1996.Attended study tour in South Africa and Zimbabwe, April 1998.Attended official meetings in South Korea and Malaysia, July 1998.Delegate to the 101st Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Belgium, April 1999.Attended official meetings in Norway, April 1999.Attended official meetings in Italy, October 1999.Delegate to the 102nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Germany, October 1999.Delegate to the 103rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Jordan from April to May 2000.Attended official meetings in Tanzania from April to May 2000.Attended official meetings in Vietnam, October 2000.Delegate to the 104th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Indonesia, October 2000.Delegate to the 105th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Cuba from March to April 2001.Attended official meetings in Mexico from March to April 2001.Attended study tour in the USA, Canada and UK from April to May 2001.Delegate to the 106th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Burkina Faso, September 2001.Delegate to the 107th Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Morocco, March 2002. Parliamentary party positions Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.12.1984 to 30.06.2002Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 14.9.1987 to 12.2.1991. Party positions Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (WA) from 1978.Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (WA) from 1978.Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (WA) from 1981 to 1982.Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 1982.President of the Australian Labor Party Perth Federal Electorate Council (WA), 1983.Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 1984.Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (WA), 1984.Secretary of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party from 1985 to 1993.Returning Officer of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party from 1990 to 1996. Other positions Justice of the Peace. Personal Born: 11.10.1944, Cavan, IrelandDied: 10.8.2018, PerthGender: MaleMarital Status: Married Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament Education Officer for the AMWSU (WA).Fitter and turner.