Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Sturt, South Australia, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services from 7.10.03 to 26.10.04.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing from 26.10.04 to 30.1.07.
• Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing from 30.1.07 to 21.3.07.
• Minister for Ageing from 21.3.07 to 3.12.07.
• Minister for Education from 18.9.13 to 23.12.14.
• Minister for Education and Training from 23.12.14 to 21.9.15.
• Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science from 21.9.15 to 19.7.16.
• Minister for Defence Industry from 19.7.16.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 12.5.93 to 31.5.94 and from 29.5.96 to 4.6.97; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure from 12.5.93 to 29.1.96; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 10.5.94 to 29.1.96; Financial Institutions and Public Administration from 29.5.96 to 31.8.98; Economics, Finance and Public Administration from 8.12.98 to 18.6.02; Employment, Education and Training from 30.5.96 to 31.8.98; Procedure from 8.12.98 to 6.11.00 (Chair from 10.12.98 to 6.11.00); Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 20.3.02 to 4.11.03 (Chair from 20.3.02 to 4.11.03).
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 11.3.08 to 25.9.08; Australian Crime Commission from 11.3.08 to 25.9.08.
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 8.12.98 to 11.2.02; Electoral Matters from 6.11.00 to 11.2.02 (Chair from 6.11.00 to 11.2.02).
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum from 2.6.99 to 9.8.99; Parliamentary Budget Office from 23.11.10 to 23.3.11.

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Social Security from 26.5.94 to 11.3.96.
• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 6.12.07 to 18.9.13. Shadow Minister for Justice and Border Protection from 6.12.07 to 22.9.08; Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 6.12.07 to 22.9.08; Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training from 22.9.08 to 18.9.13.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the House from 16.2.09 to 5.8.13.
• Leader of the House from 12.11.13.

Party positions

• State President, Young Liberals (SA) 1988-90.
• Member, Liberal Party State Executive (SA) 1988-92.
• Policy Coordinator, Liberal Party (SA) 1990-92.
• Vice-President, Australian Young Liberal Movement 1990-91.
• Member, Liberal Party Federal Executive 1990-91.
• Delegate to Liberal Party State and Federal Councils.
• Member, Liberal Party Campaign Committee (SA).
• Member, Liberal Party Policy Committee (SA).
• Member, Liberal Party Federal Advisory Committee on Electoral Matters.

Personal

• Born 13.8.1967, Adelaide, SA.
• Married.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (Adel).
• GDLP (SA).
• Research assistant to Senator AE Vanstone 1987-90.
• Solicitor 1991-93.

Electorate

• Description: inner metropolitan.
• Location: eastern Adelaide; it includes the suburbs of Athelstone, Burnside, Campbelltown, Dernancourt, Frewville, Gilles Plains, Glynde, Glenside, Hectorville, Highbury, Hillcrest, Holden Hill, Kensington, Klemzig, Magill, Marden, Paradise, Payneham (part), Rostrevor (part) and Tranmere.
• Area: 85 sq km.
• Electors enrolled: 104 742 (at 2.7.16).
• University of South Australia campus, mainly residential with some commercial and retail activity.

Publications

• A Letter To My Children, Melbourne, Vic: Melbourne University Publishing, 2015.