Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Dawson, Queensland, 2010. Re-elected 2013 and 2016.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings from 14.9.2016.
• Joint Select: Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation from 15.9.2011 to 7.10.2011; Northern Australia from 9.12.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• House of Representatives Standing: Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Selection from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Social Policy and Legal Affairs from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016 (Chair from 17.3.2014 to 9.5.2016); Social Policy and Legal Affairs from 14.9.2016; Publications from 14.9.2016; Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources from 30.5.2018.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals Party Whip from 17.10.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• The Nationals Party Chief Whip from 30.8.2016 to 2.3.2017.

Party positions

• Member, Nationals (Qld) 1993-2008
• Member, Young Nationals (Qld) 1993-2008
• State President, Young Nationals (Qld) 2003-04
• Mackay Zone Vice-President, Nationals (Qld) 2007-08
• Member, Liberal National Party (Qld) from 2008
• Central Queensland Region Secretary, Liberal National Party (Qld) 2008-09

Personal

• Born 30.6.1978, Mackay, Australia.
• Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• B.Comm (Journalism)(CQU)
• Printing factory worker 2000
• Journalist 2000
• Press secretary 2001-04
• Councillor 2004-10
• Newspaper editor and publisher 2005-08

Local government service

• Councillor, City of Mackay Council from 2004 to 2008.
• Councillor, Mackay Regional Council from 2008 to 2010.

Electorate

• Description: Rural
• Location: northern and central Queensland coast; it includes the city of Mackay, the southern suburbs of Townsville and the towns of Airlie Beach, Ayr, Bowen, Home Hill and Proserpine.
• Area: 14945 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 103665 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: small crops, prawn and fish farms, sugar growing and refining, beef cattle, coal mining related industries, abattoirs and tourism.
• Electorate: Dawson includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Mackay, and parts of Burdekin, Mirani, Mundingburra and Whitsunday.