Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1993. Re-elected 1998 and 2004. Resigned 30.1.2009.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 25.9.2008 to 30.1.2009.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney-General from 13.2.1997 to 18.7.1997.
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services from 13.2.1997 to 18.7.1997.
• Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs from 18.7.1997 to 9.10.1997.
• Minister Assisting the Attorney-General from 18.7.1997 to 9.10.1997.
• Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Special Minister of State from 21.10.1998 to 30.1.2001.
• Minister for Justice and Customs from 30.1.2001 to 9.3.2007.
• Minister for Human Services from 9.3.2007 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 9.3.2007 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 31.5.1996 to 26.2.1997
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 25.3.1994 to 26.2.1997; Corporations and Securities served from 31.5.1996 to 25.11.1996
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group F served as Substitute member from 19.8.1993 to 7.2.1994; Estimates Group F served from 8.2.1994 to 9.10.1994
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 18.8.1993 to 9.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 18.8.1993 to 9.10.1994; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 1.9.1994 to 10.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 17.10.1994 to 8.5.1996; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 30.4.1996 to 26.2.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 2.5.1996 to 26.2.1997; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 9.5.1996 to 26.2.1997; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.7.1996 to 26.2.1997
• Senate Select: Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Land Fund Bill served from 30.11.1994 to 9.2.1995; Certain Land Fund Matters served from 19.9.1995 to 30.11.1995; Victorian Casino Inquiry served from 20.5.1996 to 5.12.1996
• Senate Standing: Privileges served from 18.8.1993 to 30.9.1997; Scrutiny of Bills served from 22.9.1994 to 29.4.1996; Procedure served from 18.11.2004 to 22.6.2006; Selection of Bills served from 18.11.2004 to 20.3.2007; Procedure served from 11.8.2006 to 20.6.2007; Selection of Bills served from 13.2.2008 to 23.9.2008; Scrutiny of Bills served from 13.2.2008 to 19.2.2008; Scrutiny of Bills served as Chair from 20.2.2008 to 13.10.2008; Procedure served from 12.3.2008 to 30.1.2009

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Official Committee Exchange to New Zealand by Joint Committee on Native Title, August 1995.
• Leader, UNESCO Delegation to France, October 1997.
• Official visits to France, October 1997.
• Official visits to East Timor, March 2001.
• Official visits to Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, April-May 2001.
• Official visits to Japan, December 2001.
• Official visits to East Timor, March 2001.
• Official visits to Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong, April-May 2001.
• Official visits to Indonesia, February-March 2002.
• Official visits to USA, September 2002.
• Official visits to Indonesia, October 2002.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, November 2002.
• Official visits to Indonesia and Singapore, December 2002.
• Official visits to Republic of Korea, February 2003.
• Official visits to Nauru, March 2003.
• Official visits to Cyprus and Austria, April 2003.
• Official visits to Indonesia, April 2003.
• Official visits to USA, July 2003.
• Official visits to Solomon Islands, September 2003.
• Official visits to East Timor, November 2003.
• Official visits to Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand, December 2003.
• Official visits to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, May 2004.
• Official visits to Indonesia, July 2004.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, December 2004.

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 01.07.1993 to 30.01.2009
• Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 12.2.2008 to 22.9.2008.
• Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 16.11.2004 to 9.3.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (WA) from 1983 to 1988.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Council (WA) from 1983.
• President of the Liberal Party Perth Division (WA) from 1983 to 1987.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Constitutional and Drafting Committee from 1986 to 1988.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Constitutional and Drafting Committee from 1989.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (WA) from 1989 to 2008.

Personal

• Born: 15.6.1954, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BJuris (University of Western Australia).
• LLB (University of Western Australia).
• Articled clerk and lawyer for the Legal Aid Commission (WA) from 1978 to 1980.
• Barrister and solicitor from 1980 to 1993.

Military Service

• Western Australian University Regiment 1979-80.