Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Franklin 1979. Defeated at general elections 1982.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Lyons, Tasmania, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Defeated at general elections 2013.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 13.5.2011 to 5.8.2013.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 7.5.1996 to 5.8.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Recent Australian Bushfires served as Deputy Chair from 27.3.2003 to 5.11.2003
• House of Representatives Standing: Transport, Communications and Infrastructure served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Employment, Education and Training served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Long Term Strategies served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Environment, Recreation and the Arts served from 6.3.1995 to 26.6.1995; Parliamentary Library served from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 29.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Primary Industries and Regional Services served as Deputy Chair from 8.12.1998 to 8.10.2001; Parliamentary Library served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Publications served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served as Deputy Chair from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Industry and Resources served from 20.3.2002 to 17.10.2007; Parliamentary Library served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Petitions served from 19.2.2008 to 5.8.2013; Primary Industries and Resources served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum served from 9.6.1999 to 9.8.1999
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 18.6.1996 to 17.10.2007; Migration served from 12.8.1999 to 8.10.2001; Parliamentary Library served as Joint Chair from 27.3.2006 to 5.8.2013; National Capital and External Territories served from 18.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; National Capital and External Territories served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 28.3.2011 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 30.5.1996 to 8.10.2001; Public Accounts and Audit served from 17.8.2009 to 5.8.2013

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to 14th AIPO General Assembly, Malaysia and bilateral visits to the Philippines and Brunei, from September-October 1993.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, June 1997.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the AIPO General Assembly, Nusa Dua, Bali, and bilateral visits to Thailand and Laos, September 1997.
• Member, Joint Standing Committee on Treaties visit to New Zealand, March 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Hungary and Poland, October 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Iran and Jordan, October-November 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to East Timor and Indonesia, September 2003.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Chile and Peru, November 2006.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Canada and Mexico, April-May 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, August 2009.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Brazil and Panama, April 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Switzerland, Germany and Austria, October 2011.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Uganda and Kazakhstan, March-April 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 13.03.1993 to 07.09.2013

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1970.
• Honorary Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.), 1980.

Personal

• Born: 29.4.1951, Launceston, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Meat worker.
• Organiser for the Meat Industries Employees' Union.
• Organiser for the Liquor and Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union.
• Milkman.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Franklin 1979. Defeated at general elections 1982.
• Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker from 1980 to 1981.
• Minister for National Parks, Lands, Aged Persons and Community Welfare from 13.10.1981 to 26.5.1982.

Electorate

• Name: Lyons
• Location: the greater part of rural Tasmania; it includes the towns of Beaconsfield, Bothwell, Bridgewater, Brighton, Campbell Town, Deloraine, Dodges Ferry, Evandale, Exeter, Gagebrook, Longford, Midway Point, New Norfolk, Perth, Port Sorell, St Helens, Sheffield, Sorell and Westbury.
• Area: 32,910 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 73,990 (at 7.9.2013)
• Industries: Fishing, forestry, wool, cattle (dairy and beef), fruit, wine, hydro-power generation, mining and tourism.
• Includes: Lyons is co-extensive with the Tasmanian House of Assembly electorate of the same name.

Honours

• Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2019.