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

• Joint Select: Trade and Investment Growth served from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Treaties served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 4.12.2013 to 12.12.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission served from 1.7.2005 to 27.3.2007; Intelligence and Security served from 12.12.2013 to 16.7.2014
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 1.2.2000 to 18.2.2000; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.4.2000 to 8.5.2000; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 30.11.2000 to 26.2.2001; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.4.2002 to 12.4.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 11.5.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 4.12.2003 to 1.3.2004; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.3.2004 to 15.11.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 1.7.2005 to 10.9.2006; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 20.11.2014 to 20.11.2014; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 12.2.2015 to 12.11.2015; Education and Employment: References served from 12.11.2015 to 26.11.2015
• Senate Select: Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters served as Chair from 23.6.2003 to 31.3.2004; Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs served from 1.10.2014 to 27.3.2015; Unconventional Gas Mining served from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Establishment of a National Integrity Commission served from 25.2.2016 to 9.5.2016
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 9.8.1999 to 1.7.2002; Publications served from 9.8.1999 to 4.10.2000; Selection of Bills served from 17.8.2000 to 11.2.2002; Procedure served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Selection of Bills served from 1.7.2002 to 8.2.2012; Parliamentary Library served from 1.7.2002 to 15.11.2004; Procedure served from 7.9.2005 to 11.12.2005; Procedure served from 14.5.2008 to 7.2.2012; Scrutiny of Bills served from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 01.07.1999 to 09.05.2016
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 25.11.2001 to 26.10.2004.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 12.2.2002 to 17.10.2007.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Homeland Security from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• 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.
• Opposition Deputy Whip in the Senate from 17.8.2000 to 22.11.2001.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 12.2.2008 to 14.12.2011.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1978.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Economic and Industrial Relations Committee from 1993 to 1996.
• Convener of the Australian Labor Party Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Committee from 1996 to 1999.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party Rules Committee from 1998 to 2005.

Other positions

• Justice of the Peace from 1997.

Personal

• Born: 21.7.1959, Longreach, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• CertMgt&IndRel (Kangaroo Point TAFE).
• BA (University of Queensland).
• LLB (Queensland University of Technology).
• GradDipLegPrac (Australian National University).
• Barrister.
• Cadet Industrial Inspector from 1978 to 1980.
• Assistant Industrial Inspector from 1980 to 1982.
• Industrial Inspector from 1982 to 1988.
• Training consultant, 1988.
• Industrial Advocate for the Australian Workers' Union (Qld) from 1988 to 1993.
• Senior Industrial Advocate for the Australian Workers' Union (Qld) from 1993 to 1999.

Military Service

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