Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Sturt, South Australia, 1993.. Re-elected 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
• Cabinet Minister from 18.9.13
• 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 19.7.2016 to 28.8.2018
• Minister for Defence from 28.8.2018

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 11.03.2008 to 25.09.2008; Australian Crime Commission from 11.03.2008 to 25.09.2008.
• Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 08.12.1998 to 11.02.2002; Electoral Matters from 06.11.2000 to 11.02.2002 (Chair from 06.11.2000 to 11.02.2002).
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum from 02.06.1999 to 09.08.1999; Parliamentary Budget Office from 23.11.2010 to 23.03.2011.
• House of Representatives Standing: Transport, Communications and Infrastructure from 12.05.1993 to 29.01.1996; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 12.05.1993 to 31.05.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 10.05.1994 to 29.01.1996; Financial Institutions and Public Administration from 29.05.1996 to 31.08.1998; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 29.05.1996 to 04.06.1997; Employment, Education and Training from 30.05.1996 to 31.08.1998; Procedure from 08.12.1998 to 06.11.2000 (Chair from 10.12.1998 to 06.11.2000); Economics, Finance and Public Administration from 08.12.1998 to 18.06.2002; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 20.03.2002 to 04.11.2003 (Chair from 20.03.2002 to 04.11.2003).

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

• 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
• 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

Personal

• Born 13.08.1967, Adelaide, Australia.
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LL.B (Adel)
• Grad.Dip.Legal.Prac (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: 104742 (at 02.07.2016)
• Electorate:

Publications

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