Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2013. Re-elected 2016 and 2022.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Northern Australia from 18.2.2016 to 19.7.2016.
• Minister for Resources and Northern Australia from 19.7.2016 to 25.7.2017.
• Cabinet Minister from 19.7.2016 to 25.7.2017.
• Cabinet Minister from 27.10.2017 to 3.2.2020.
• Minister for Resources and Northern Australia from 27.10.2017 to 3.2.2020.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Northern Australia served from 1.7.2014 to 23.2.2016
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 1.7.2014 to 4.2.2016; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 1.7.2014 to 15.6.2015; Northern Australia served from 18.6.2020 to 11.4.2022; Trade and Investment Growth served from 1.8.2022 to present; Treaties served from 1.8.2022 to present
• Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 1.7.2014 to 2.3.2015; Human Rights served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Public Works served from 4.3.2015 to 4.2.2016; Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.8.2022 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 23.2.2016; Economics: References served from 1.7.2014 to 23.2.2016; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.7.2014 to 3.3.2015; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 19.10.2015 to 20.10.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Chair from 2.9.2021 to 25.7.2022; Education and Employment: References served as Deputy Chair from 2.9.2021 to 25.7.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.8.2022 to 2.8.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 1.8.2022 to 1.8.2022; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 1.8.2022 to 1.8.2022; Economics: References served from 1.8.2022 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 2.8.2022 to present; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 2.8.2022 to present
• Senate Select: Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served from 17.7.2014 to 23.2.2016; Wind Turbines served from 27.11.2014 to 3.8.2015; Murray-Darling Basin Plan served from 25.6.2015 to 23.2.2016; Unconventional Gas Mining served from 12.11.2015 to 23.2.2016; Administration of Sports Grants served from 5.2.2020 to 18.3.2021; Tobacco Harm Reduction served from 7.10.2020 to 18.12.2020; Job Security served from 10.12.2020 to 16.12.2020; Job Security served as Deputy Chair from 17.12.2020 to 30.3.2022; Cost of Living served from 25.10.2022 to present
• Senate Standing: Selection of Bills served from 10.9.2015 to 24.2.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals Party Whip in the Senate from 10.9.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Deputy Leader of The Nationals in the Senate from 2.7.2019 to 27.9.2022.

Personal

• Born: 17.12.1980, Southport, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Queensland).
• BEc(Hons) (University of Queensland).
• Senior Research Economist at the Productivity Commission from 2003 to 2008.
• Senior Executive at KPMG from 2008 to 2009.
• Director of the Productivity Commission from 2009 to 2010.
• Chief of Staff to Senator B Joyce from 2010 to 2013.