Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Victoria on 28.4.1993 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. J Button (resigned). Elected to the Senate for Victoria 1993. Re-elected 1998 and 2004, 2010 and 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from 3.12.2007 to 14.12.2011.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 14.12.2011.
• Minister for Manufacturing from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister for Defence Materiel from 14.12.2011 to 5.3.2012.
• Minister for Human Services from 5.3.2012 to 25.3.2013.
• Minister for Higher Education from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills from 18.5.1993 to 12.5.1994; Procedure from 2.5.1996 to 11.2.2002; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation (formerly Regulations and Ordinances) from 2.5.1996 to 1.7.1996; Publications from 12.3.1998 to 23.6.1998; House from 6.4.1998 to 11.2.2008; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation (formerly Regulations and Ordinances) from 2.7.2019; Scrutiny of Bills from 2.7.2019; Privileges from 4.7.2019.
• Senate Select: Functions, Powers and Operation of the Australian Loan Council from 19.5.1993 to 14.12.1993; Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Australian Broadcasting Corporation Management and Operations from 22.9.1994 to 30.3.1995; Administration of Indigenous Affairs from 18.11.2004 to 8.3.2005; Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru from 26.3.2015 to 31.8.2015; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures (formerly Abbott Government's Budget Cuts) from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016 (Substitute member from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016); Electric Vehicles from 27.6.2018 to 30.1.2019.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Employment, Education and Training from 18.5.1993 to 10.10.1994; Finance and Public Administration from 27.5.1993 to 10.10.1994; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation from 10.10.1994 to 2.3.1995; Employment, Education and Training: References from 10.10.1994 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation from 10.10.1994 to 9.11.1998; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References from 10.10.1994 to 2.3.1995; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation from 8.2.1995 to 29.4.1996 (Chair from 8.2.1995 to 29.4.1996); Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References from 8.2.1995 to 29.4.1996; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References from 24.9.1997 to 30.12.1997; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References from 11.3.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation from 11.3.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation from 14.5.2013 to 11.11.2013; Economics: References from 19.3.2014 to 24.3.2014; Economics: References from 1.7.2014 to 14.5.2015; Economics: References from 7.2.2017 to 28.6.2018 (Substitute member from 7.2.2017 to 28.6.2018); Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 7.2.2017 to 18.10.2017 (Substitute member from 7.2.2017 to 18.10.2017); Environment and Communications: Legislation from 24.10.2017 to 24.10.2017 (Substitute member from 24.10.2017 to 24.10.2017); Economics: References from 21.3.2018 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 2.7.2019 (Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019); Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 2.7.2019 (Chair from 4.7.2019); Environment and Communications: References from 30.11.2020 to 9.12.2021 (Substitute member from 30.11.2020 to 9.12.2021).
• Senate Estimates: B from 6.5.1993 to 10.10.1994; A from 1.11.1993 to 6.12.1993; D from 7.11.1993 to 14.11.1993.
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account from 1.12.2004 to 7.9.2005; Corporations and Financial Services from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Human Rights from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Public Accounts and Audit from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013.
• Joint Standing: Treaties from 31.5.1996 to 4.12.1996; National Capital and External Territories from 6.4.1998 to 23.6.1998; Electoral Matters from 1.12.2004 to 11.2.2008; National Capital and External Territories from 8.12.2005 to 12.3.2006; National Capital and External Territories from 28.3.2006 to 8.2.2007; Treaties from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013.
• Joint Select: Certain Family Law Issues from 18.5.1993 to 28.11.1993; Broadcasting Legislation from 14.5.2013 to 24.6.2013; Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Gambling Reform from 14.5.2013 to 24.6.2013; Australia Fund Establishment from 23.9.2014 to 25.6.2015.

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 30.4.1996 to 8.10.2001.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Youth Affairs in the Senate from 27.3.1997 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education from 26.8.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education in the Senate from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Science and Research from 25.11.2001 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for the Public Service from 18.2.2003 to 8.12.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Open Government from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for the Arts from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Housing and Urban Development from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Local Government and Territories from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Industry from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Research from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Industry from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition for Science from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee (Vic.).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1975.

Personal

• Born 2.7.1955, Tumut, Australia
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• DipEd (University of Melbourne).
• BA(Hons) (University of Melbourne).
• MA (University of Melbourne).
• Ministerial adviser and policy analyst.
• Teacher from 1979 to 1989.
• Teacher from 1992 to 1993.