Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Higgins, Victoria, 1990. Re-elected 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 19.10.2009.

Ministerial appointments

• Treasurer from 11.3.1996 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 11.3.1996 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Select: Print Media served from 22.8.1991 to 25.3.1992
• House of Representatives Standing: Privileges served from 16.5.1990 to 8.2.1993; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 16.5.1990 to 14.9.1992

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Official visits to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, March-April 1995.
• Official visits to Japan, March 1996.
• Official visits to France, Germany and UK, May 1996.
• Official visits to USA, September-October 1996.
• Official visits to Philippines, April 1997.
• Official visits to Malaysia, China and Hong Kong, September 1997.
• Official visits to Singapore and Malaysia, November-December 1997.
• Official visits to USA, April 1998.
• Official visits to Canada and USA, May 1998.
• Parliamentary Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Canberra, February 1998.
• Official visits to USA, April 1999.
• Official visits to Malaysia and Hong Kong, May 1999.
• Official visits to Papua New Guinea, July 1999.
• Official visits to USA, Ireland and UK, September-October 1999.
• Official visits to Germany and France, December 1999.
• Official visits to France, June 2000.
• Official visits to Indonesia and Brunei, September 2000.
• Official visits to USA and Canada, October 2000.
• Official visits to USA, April-May 2001.
• Official visits to China, September 2001.
• Official visits to Canada, November 2001.
• Official visits to Vanuatu, July 2002.
• Official visits to Mexico, September 2002.
• Official visits to India, September 2002.
• Official visits to UK and USA, September-October 2002.
• Official visits to New Zealand, February 2003.
• Official visits to Turkey and France, April-May 2003.
• Official visits to Thailand, September 2003.
• Official visits to Israel, Jordan and United Arab Emirates, September 2003.
• Official visits to Mexico, October 2003.
• Official visits to USA, April 2004.
• Official visits to New Zealand, June 2004.
• Official visits to UK and Germany, November 2004.
• Official visits to New Zealand, February 2005.
• Official visits to Indonesia and Republic of Korea, September 2005.
• Official visits to USA, September-October 2005.
• Official visits to China, October 2005.
• Official visits to USA, January 2006.
• Official visits to Russia, June 2006.
• Official visits to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, July 2006.
• Official visits to Vietnam and South Africa, September 2006.
• Official visits to Singapore, September 2006.
• Official visits to New Zealand, January 2007.
• Official visits to UK and USA, April 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party from 23.5.1994 to 29.11.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Corporate Law Reform and Consumer Affairs from 11.4.1990 to 23.5.1992.
• Shadow Attorney-General from 23.5.1992 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Justice from 23.5.1992 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Finance from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 23.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Treasurer from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.

Party positions

• Vice-Chair of the Liberal Party East Metropolitan Area Conference (Vic.).
• Member of the Young Liberal Movement Executive (Vic.) from 1980 to 1981.
• Chair of the Liberal Party Constitutional Committee (Vic.) from 1987 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 14.8.1957, Melbourne, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Monash University).
• LLB(Hons) (Monash University).
• Barrister.
• Tutor in the Law, Economics and Politics faculties at Monash University (Vic.).

Electorate

• Name: Higgins
• Location: south-eastern Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Armadale, Ashburton, Kooyong, Malvern, Malvern East and Toorak, and parts of Camberwell, Carnegie, Glen Iris, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Prahran, South Yarra and Windsor.
• Area: 39 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 89,345 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: retail and service industries.
• Includes: Higgins includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Malvern, and parts of Burwood, Hawthorn, Oakleigh and Prahran.

Honours

• Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2011.

Publications

• Arbitration in contempt, Mercury-Walch, Melbourne: 1986.
• The Costello memoirs: the age of prosperity, Melbourne University Press, 2008.