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. Retired with the expiration of term 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 1.8.2019 to 30.6.2022.
• Member of the Advisory Council on Australian Archives from 1.8.2019 to 30.6.2022.

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

• Joint Select: Certain Family Law Issues served from 18.5.1993 to 28.11.1995; Broadcasting Legislation served from 14.5.2013 to 24.6.2013; Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Gambling Reform served from 14.5.2013 to 24.6.2013; Australia Fund Establishment served from 23.10.2014 to 25.6.2015
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 31.5.1996 to 4.12.1996; National Capital and External Territories served from 6.4.1998 to 23.6.1998; Electoral Matters served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; National Capital and External Territories served from 8.12.2005 to 12.3.2006; National Capital and External Territories served from 28.3.2006 to 8.2.2007; Treaties served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 1.12.2004 to 7.9.2005; Human Rights served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013; Corporations and Financial Services served from 14.5.2013 to 5.8.2013
• Senate Estimates: Estimates Group B served from 6.5.1993 to 9.10.1994; Estimates Group A served from 1.11.1993 to 7.12.1993; Estimates Group D served from 7.11.1993 to 15.11.1993
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 18.5.1993 to 9.10.1994; Finance and Public Administration served from 27.5.1993 to 9.10.1994; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served from 10.10.1994 to 29.4.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 10.10.1994 to 2.3.1995; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 10.10.1994 to 2.3.1995; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.2.1995 to 9.2.1995; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Chair from 9.2.1995 to 29.4.1996; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served from 9.2.1995 to 29.4.1996; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 1.9.1995 to 31.12.1995; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 1.9.1995 to 31.12.1995; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 30.5.1996 to 9.9.1996; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 31.10.1996 to 24.2.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 9.5.1997 to 9.11.1998; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served from 24.9.1997 to 30.12.1997; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References served as Substitute member from 8.4.1998 to 9.11.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 28.4.1998 to 30.4.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 7.5.1998 to 7.5.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 29.5.1998 to 29.5.1998; Employment, Education and Training: References served as Substitute member from 17.6.1998 to 18.6.1998; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: Legislation served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education: References served from 24.11.1998 to 11.2.2002; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 13.2.2002 to 15.11.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 29.11.2004 to 1.12.2004; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Substitute member from 29.11.2004 to 30.6.2005; Finance and Public Administration: References served as Substitute member from 2.12.2004 to 17.8.2005; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Substitute member from 8.3.2005 to 30.6.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served as Substitute member from 18.10.2006 to 21.11.2006; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 14.5.2013 to 11.11.2013; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 17.3.2014 to 16.6.2014; Economics: References served from 19.3.2014 to 24.3.2014; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 24.3.2014 to 30.6.2014; Economics: References served from 1.7.2014 to 14.5.2015; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 4.9.2014 to 28.10.2014; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.11.2014 to 24.11.2014; Education and Employment: Legislation served as Substitute member from 12.2.2015 to 13.3.2015; Education and Employment: References served as Substitute member from 12.2.2015 to 15.10.2015; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 14.5.2015 to 9.5.2016; Economics: References served as Substitute member from 7.2.2017 to 28.6.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Substitute member from 7.2.2017 to 18.10.2017; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Substitute member from 24.10.2017 to 24.10.2017; Economics: References served from 21.3.2018 to 1.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served from 2.7.2019 to 3.7.2019; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 30.6.2022; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Chair from 4.7.2019 to 30.6.2022; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 30.11.2020 to 9.12.2021
• Senate Select: Functions, Powers and Operation of the Australian Loan Council served from 19.5.1993 to 14.12.1993; Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in relation to the Print Media served from 14.12.1993 to 30.3.1995; Australian Broadcasting Corporation Management and Operations served from 22.9.1994 to 30.3.1995; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 18.11.2004 to 8.3.2005; Recent Allegations relating to Conditions and Circumstances at the Regional Processing Centre in Nauru served from 26.3.2015 to 31.8.2015; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 11.3.2016 to 11.3.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 18.3.2016 to 18.3.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 21.3.2016 to 10.4.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016; Electric Vehicles served from 27.6.2018 to 30.1.2019
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 18.5.1993 to 12.5.1994; Procedure served from 2.5.1996 to 11.2.2002; Regulations and Ordinances served from 2.5.1996 to 1.7.1996; Publications served from 12.3.1998 to 23.6.1998; House served from 6.4.1998 to 11.2.2008; Scrutiny of Bills served from 2.7.2019 to 30.6.2022; Regulations and Ordinances served from 2.7.2019 to 3.12.2019; Privileges served from 4.7.2019 to 30.6.2022; Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation served from 4.12.2019 to 30.6.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• 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 Cabinet Minister from 2.7.2003 to 3.12.2007.
• 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 Cabinet Minister from 18.10.2013 to 2.6.2019.
• 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
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: 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.