Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Longman, Queensland, 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004. Defeated at general elections 2007.
• Elected to the House of Representatives for Fisher, Queensland, 2013. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business from 16.2.00 to 30.1.01.
• Minister for Employment Services from 14.2.01 to 18.7.04.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence from 7.10.03 to 18.7.04.
• Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer from 18.7.04 to 27.1.06.
• Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs from 27.1.06 to 3.12.07.
• Special Minister of State from 21.9.15 to 18.2.16. [Stood aside on 29.12.2015].
• Minister for Defence Materiel and Science from 21.9.15 to 18.2.16.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Employment, Education and Training from 30.5.96 to 31.8.98; Industry, Science and Resources from 21.6.99 to 8.3.00; Infrastructure and Communications from 4.12.13 to 24.9.14.
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit from 8.12.98 to 7.3.00.
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 18.6.96 to 31.8.98; National Disability Insurance Scheme from 4.12.13 to 12.10.15 (Chair from.11.2.14 to 12.10.15).

Party positions

• State President, Liberal Party (Qld) 2008.
• Member, Liberal Party Kawana Branch.

Personal

• Born 29.12.1961, Brisbane, Qld.
• Married.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Military service 1979-87.
• Private sector business 1988-96.

Electorate

• Description: rural.
• Location: central and southern Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane; it includes the centres of Beerburrum, Beerwah, Caloundra, Kawana, Landsborough, Maleny, Minyama, Montville and Sippy Downs. It also includes Glass House Mountains.
• Area: 1170 sq km (approx.).
• Electors enrolled: 88 383 (at 7.9.13).
• Industries: tourism, service industries, education, pineapple, orchard and flower crops, dairy and beef cattle farming, and horse racing.
• State electorates: Fisher includes the Queensland Legislative Assembly electorates of Caloundra and Kawana, and parts of Glass House, Maroochydore and Nicklin.