Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia on 14.9.2021 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice R Siewert (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Western Australia, 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 26.7.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum served from 30.3.2023 to 12.5.2023; Northern Australia served from 25.3.2024 to present
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 18.10.2021 to present; Northern Australia served from 19.10.2021 to 11.4.2022; Trade and Investment Growth served from 19.10.2021 to present; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 14.9.2023 to present
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 5.9.2022 to 15.8.2024; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 26.9.2022 to 4.11.2022
• Senate Select: Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance served as Deputy Chair from 22.6.2023 to present; Measuring Outcomes for First Nations Communities served from 28.11.2024 to 6.12.2024; Measuring Outcomes for First Nations Communities served as Chair from 6.12.2024 to present

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens. Served: 14.09.2021 to present
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Mining and Resources, Trade, Science, Research and Innovation from 15.9.2021 to 17.6.2022.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Resources, Science, Trade and Tourism from 17.6.2022 to 13.2.2023.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Resources, Science, Trade, Tourism and First Nations from 13.2.2023 to 25.3.2024.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for First Nations, Northern Australia, Resources, and Trade and Tourism from 25.3.2024.

Personal

• Born: 25.5.1976, Kojonup, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Yes

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Self-employed.
• Project Manager in State Government.
• Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer from August 1996 to June 2002.

Honours

• Awarded the Aboriginal Police Medal, 2020.

Publications

• Working with Indigenous Survivors of Sexual Assault, Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, 2008.
• No Justice Without Healing (co-authored with Mandy Young and Alison Bairnsfather-Scott), Australian Feminist Law Journal (vol. 30), 2009.
• Closing the gap on family violence: driving prevention and intervention through health policy (Issues Paper 21) (co-authored with Victoria Hovane) Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2011.