Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Dawson, Queensland, 2010. Re-elected 2013, 2016 and 2019.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings from 14.9.2016.
• Joint Standing: Parliamentary Library from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Northern Australia from 23.7.2019; Trade and Investment Growth from 23.7.2019 (Chair from 25.7.2019).
• 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 to 11.4.2019; Publications from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources from 30.5.2018 to 11.4.2019.

Parliamentary party positions

• Nationals Whip in the House of Representatives from 17.10.2013 to 9.5.2016.
• Nationals Chief Whip in the House of Representatives from 30.8.2016 to 2.3.2017.

Party positions

• Member of the Nationals (Qld.) from 1993 to 2008.
• Member of the Young Nationals (Qld.) from 1993 to 2008.
• President of the Young Nationals (Qld.) from 2003 to 2004.
• Vice-President of the Nationals Mackay Zone (Qld.) from 2007 to 2008.
• Member of the Liberal National Party (Qld.) from 2008.
• Secretary of the Liberal National Party Central Queensland Region from 2008 to 2009.

Personal

• Born 30.6.1978, Mackay, Australia
• Single

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BCom(Journ) (Central Queensland University)
• 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: Dawson
• 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 2.7.2016)
• 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.