Biography

Parliamentary service

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

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry from 25.10.10 to 5.8.13; Selection from 4.12.13 to 9.5.16; Social Policy and Legal Affairs from 4.12.13 to 9.5.16 (Chair from 17.3.14 to 9.5.16) and from 14.9.16; Publications from 14.9.16 (Chair from 14.9.16); Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources from 30.5.18.
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library from 25.10.10 to 5.8.13; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings from 14.9.16.
• Joint Select: Australia's Clean Energy Future Legislation from 15.9.11 to 7.10.11; Northern Australia from 9.12.13 to 9.5.16.

Parliamentary party positions

• Party Whip, The Nationals from 17.10.13 to 9.5.16.
• Chief Whip, The Nationals from 30.8.16 to 2.3.17.

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, Qld.
• Single.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• B. Comms (Journalism) (CQU).
• Printing factory worker 2000.
• Journalist 2000.
• Press secretary 2001-04.
• Councillor (see Local government service below) 2004-10.
• Newspaper editor and publisher 2005-08.

Local government service

• Councillor, City of Mackay 2004-08.
• Councillor, Mackay Regional Council 2008-10.
• Executive member, Urban Local Government Association 2008-10.

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: 14 945 sq km.
Electors enrolled: 103 665 (at 2.7.16).
Industries: small crops, prawn and fish farms, sugar growing and refining, beef cattle, coal mining related industries, abattoirs and tourism.
State electorates: Dawson includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorate of Mackay, and parts of Burdekin, Mirani, Mundingburra and Whitsunday.