Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of South Australia on 4.4.1990 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice J Haines (resigned). Elected to the Senate for South Australia 1993. Re-elected 1998. Defeated at general elections 2004.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 19.8.1993 to 1.7.1996
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 9.8.2001 to 31.8.2004; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 7.12.2004 to 30.6.2005
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs served from 1.6.1990 to 9.10.1994; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 2.3.1998; Community Affairs: References served from 10.10.1994 to 30.10.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served from 15.11.1995 to 30.10.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Chair from 15.11.1995 to 1.3.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served from 2.3.1998 to 2.3.1998; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.4.1998 to 29.5.1998; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 2.12.1998 to 8.12.1998; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 24.8.1999 to 7.12.2000; Community Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 22.5.2001 to 8.10.2001; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.5.2001 to 9.8.2001; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served as Substitute member from 22.5.2001 to 9.8.2001; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 27.8.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 27.8.2002; Community Affairs: References served from 13.2.2002 to 30.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 27.8.2002; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 13.2.2002 to 27.8.2002
• Senate Select: Superannuation served from 13.8.1991 to 17.10.1991; Land Fund Bill served from 30.11.1994 to 9.2.1995; Uranium Mining and Milling served from 1.7.1996 to 15.5.1997; New Tax System served as Substitute member from 10.12.1998 to 30.4.1999; Medicare served from 15.5.2003 to 11.2.2004

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Study tour, UK, July 2000.
• Study tour, Thailand, June 2001.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and China, November-December 2002.

Parliamentary party positions

• Independent. Served: 27.07.2002 to 27.04.2003
• Australian Democrats. Served: 04.04.1990 to 27.07.2002
• Australian Progressive Alliance. Served: 27.04.2003 to 30.06.2005
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts, Sport, Tourism and Territories; Status of Women from 8.5.1990 to 30.6.1990.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Social Security (including Retirement Income); Community Services (including Aged Care); Sport; Tourism from 1.7.1990 to 8.10.1991.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 3.10.1991 to 15.10.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Community Services; Health; Ethnic Affairs; Social Security; Sport; Women from 8.10.1991 to 17.8.1992.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Employment; Health and Community Services; Social Security; Sport; Women from 17.8.1992 to 30.6.1993.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Community, Family and Aged Care Services; Consumer Affairs; Electoral Matters; Health; Housing; Sport; Veterans' Affairs from 1.7.1993 to 7.12.1995.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Environment; Family and Aged Care Services; Health; Sport; Veterans' Affairs from 7.12.1995 to 30.6.1996.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Environment; Health; Population; Resources and Energy; Sport from 1.7.1996 to 20.10.1997.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Commonwealth/State Relations; Energy and Resources; Environment; Health; Population; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Women from 20.10.1997 to 12.12.1997.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 5.12.1997 to 6.4.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Prime Minister and Cabinet; Treasurer; Health; Energy and Resources; Commonwealth/State Relations; Women from 12.12.1997 to 1.1.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Fisheries; Forestry and Conservation; Health; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Resources (including Energy); Sport (including Olympics); Status of Women; Treasurer from 1.1.1999 to 1.7.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Health; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Sport (including Olympics); Status of Women; Treasurer from 1.7.1999 to 14.4.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Consumer Affairs; Employment and Employment Services; Health; Local Government; Sport; Training from 14.4.2001 to 9.8.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Consumer Affairs; Health; Indigenous Affairs; Local Government; Sport; Training from 9.8.2001 to 1.7.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Child Care and Child Support; Health; Indigenous Affairs; Local Government; Sport; Training from 1.7.2002 to 26.7.2002.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Australian Democrats Mt Gambier Branch (SA) from 1982 to 1985.
• Delegate to the Australian Democrats State Council (SA) from 1983 to 1986.
• Convenor of the Australian Democrats Policy Committee (SA) from 1986 to 1987.
• Vice-President of the Australian Democrats (SA) from 1986 to 1987.
• President of the Australian Democrats (SA) from 1987 to 1989.

Personal

• Born: 19.10.1948, Burwood, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEd (Adelaide College of Advanced Education).
• DipPE (Sydney Teachers' College).
• Teacher.
• Councillor, Australian Conservation Foundation.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2018.

Publications

• Striking a fair balance in industrial relations, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW: 1999.