Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Richmond, New South Wales, 2004. Re-elected 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Ageing from 3.12.2007 to 14.9.2010.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Trade from 14.9.2010 to 4.2.2013.

Committee service

• Joint Statutory: Law Enforcement from 5.12.2013 to 16.7.2014; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 16.7.2014 to 9.5.2016.
• Joint Standing: Treaties from 6.2.2013 to 14.5.2013; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 15.9.2016.
• House of Representatives Standing: Health and Ageing from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Regional Australia from 6.2.2013 to 9.5.2016; Publications from 14.5.2013 to 9.5.2016; Petitions from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016 (Deputy Chair from 11.12.2013 to 9.5.2016); Petitions from 15.9.2016.

Party positions

• Member, ALP from 1995
• President, ALP Tweed Coast Branch 2003-04

Personal

• Born 29.7.1967, Brisbane, Australia.
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• B.A (Qld)
• GradDip in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (Griffith)
• Police officer 1990-97
• Juvenile Justice Conference Convener, NSW Dept of Juvenile Justice 2002-03

Electorate

• Description: Rural
• Location: New South Wales north coast; it includes the towns of Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay, Kingscliff, Lennox Head, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, Nimbin, Ocean Shores, Pottsville, Suffolk Park and Tweed Heads.
• Area: 2148 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 112715 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: Tourism, commercial fishing, agriculture including dairy, beef cattle, tropical fruits, sugarcane, coffee and macadamia nuts, sugar processing, timber, light engineering, boat building and cottage industries.
• Electorate: Richmond includes the New South Wales Assembly electorate of Tweed, and parts of Ballina and Lismore.