Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Grey, South Australia, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Parliamentary positions

• Member, Speaker's Panel from 9.3.10 to 9.5.16

Committee service

• Joint Standing: Migration from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings from 14.9.2016 to 15.9.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 14.9.2016; Parliamentary Library from 10.10.2016 (Chair from 10.10.2016).
• House of Representatives Standing: Industry, Science and Innovation from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Employment and Workplace Relations from 10.11.2008 to 19.7.2010; Education and Employment from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Agriculture and Industry from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016 (Chair from 9.12.2014 to 9.5.2016); Indigenous Affairs from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Communications and the Arts from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Agriculture and Water Resources from 14.9.2016; Appropriations and Administration from 14.9.2016; House from 14.9.2016.
• House of Representatives Select: Regional Development and Decentralisation from 13.6.2017 to 28.6.2018; Intergenerational Welfare Dependence from 28.6.2018.

Parliamentary party positions

• Government Whip in the House of Representatives from 30.8.2016.

Party positions

• Delegate, Liberal Party State Council (SA) from 1998
• President, Liberal Party Kimba Branch 1999-2004
• President, Liberal Party Grey Federal Electoral Council 2000-04
• President, Liberal Party Giles State Electoral Council from 2005

Personal

• Born 4.8.1956, Kimba, Australia
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Farmer
• Chair, Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
• Chair, Kimba District Hospital 1988-95
• Chair, Eyre Peninsula Hospitals Association 1992-95

Electorate

• Description: Rural
• Location: a large electorate covering most of rural South Australia apart from south-east corner; it includes the centres of Ceduna, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Port Pirie, Kadina, Maitland, Orroroo, Peterborough, Burra and Eudunda.
• Area: 904881 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 102059 (at 2.7.2016)
• Industries: lead smelting, steel industry, tourism, fishing, oil, gas, opals, iron ore, uranium, wheat, cattle, wool, forestry, salt, slate, aquaculture, copper and gypsum.