Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1998. Re-elected 2004 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Human Services from 3.12.2007 to 9.6.2009.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 1.7.2013.
• Special Minister of State from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Cabinet Secretary from 9.6.2009 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 14.9.2010 to 1.7.2013.
• Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery from 26.1.2011 to 1.7.2013.

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Publications from 9.8.1999 to 4.10.2000; Regulations and Ordinances from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Selection of Bills from 17.8.2000 to 8.2.2012; Procedure from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Library from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Procedure from 7.9.2005 to 11.12.2005; Procedure from 14.5.2008 to 7.2.2012; Scrutiny of Bills from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Senate Select: Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters from 23.6.2003 to 31.3.2004; Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs from 1.10.2014 to 27.3.2015; Unconventional Gas Mining from 12.11.2014 to 9.5.2016; Establishment of a National Integrity Commission from 25.2.2016 to 9.5.2016.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 1.7.2002 to 11.5.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 4.12.2003 to 1.3.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References from 1.3.2004 to 15.11.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 1.7.2005 to 11.9.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation from 12.2.2015 to 12.11.2015; Education and Employment: References from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016.
• Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission from 1.7.2005 to 27.3.2007; Intelligence and Security from 12.12.2013 to 16.7.2014.
• Joint Standing: Treaties from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Treaties from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Joint Select: Trade and Investment Growth from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016.

Parliamentary party positions

• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 17.8.2000 to 22.11.2001.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 25.11.2001 to 8.12.2003.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 12.2.2002 to 17.10.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Homeland Security from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 22.10.2004 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs from 26.10.2004 to 9.3.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Attorney-General from 9.3.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 12.2.2008 to 14.12.2011.

Party positions

• Member, ALP from 1978
• Convener, ALP Economic and Industrial Relations Committee 1993-96
• Convener, Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Committee 1996-99
• Member, ALP Rules Committee 1998-2005

Personal

• Born 21.7.1959, Longreach, Australia
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• B.A (Qld)
• LL.B (Qld University of Technology)
• Grad.Dip.LegalPrac (ANU)
• Management and Industrial Relations Certificate (Kangaroo Point TAFE)
• Barrister
• Cadet Industrial Inspector 1978-80
• Assistant Industrial Inspector 1980-82
• Industrial Inspector 1982-88
• Training consultant 1988
• Industrial Advocate, Australian Workers' Union (Qld) 1988-93
• Senior Industrial Advocate, Australian Workers' Union (Qld) 1993-99

Military Service

• 49 Royal Queensland Regiment (Reserve)
• 2nd Lieutenant 5/11 Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery (Reserve)
• Queensland University Regiment (Reserve)