Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 2007. Re-elected 2013, 2016 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.2.2010 to 28.9.2010.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women from 18.9.2013 to 21.9.2015.
• Minister for Employment from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
• Minister for Women from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service from 21.9.2015 to 20.12.2017.
• Cabinet Minister from 21.9.2015 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Jobs and Innovation from 20.12.2017 to 28.8.2018.
• Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education from 28.8.2018 to 29.5.2019.
• Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business from 29.5.2019 to 30.3.2021.
• Attorney-General from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.
• Minister for Industrial Relations from 30.3.2021 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Christmas Island Tragedy served from 3.3.2011 to 29.6.2011; Australia's Immigration Detention Network served from 22.6.2011 to 30.3.2012
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 1.7.2008 to 7.7.2011; Migration served from 1.7.2011 to 5.8.2013
• Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served as Deputy Chair from 16.3.2012 to 5.8.2013
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations served as Chair from 1.7.2008 to 27.9.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 14.5.2009 to 1.3.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 1.2.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served as Deputy Chair from 2.2.2010 to 29.9.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served as Chair from 2.3.2010 to 27.9.2010; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: References served from 28.9.2010 to 23.8.2011; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation served from 30.9.2010 to 23.8.2011; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served from 18.8.2011 to 11.11.2013
• Senate Select: Men's Health served from 3.2.2009 to 12.5.2009; Climate Policy served from 17.3.2009 to 15.6.2009
• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 2.2.2010 to 7.2.2013

Parliamentary party positions

• Deputy Leader of Government in the Senate from 30.10.2020 to 21.5.2022.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.
• Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 19.9.2012 to 5.8.2013.
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 30.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 5.6.2022.

Party positions

• Delegate for the Young Liberal Movement (WA) to the State Council.
• Policy Vice-President of the Young Liberal Movement (WA).
• Secretary of the Young Liberal Movement (WA).
• Member of the Liberal Party (WA) from 1988.
• Member of the Curtin University Liberal Executive from 1988 to 1990.
• Member of the Young Liberal Movement (WA) Executive from 1990.
• Councillor of the Liberal Party State Branch (WA) from 2000 to 2007.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Moore Division (WA) from 2000 to 2001.
• Secretary of the Liberal Party Moore Division (WA) from 2002 to 2004.
• President of the Liberal Party Whitfords Branch (WA) from 2003 to 2008.
• President of the Liberal Party Moore Division (WA) from 2004 to 2007.
• Member of the Liberal Party State Executive (WA) from 2004 to 2007.

Personal

• Born: 19.7.1970, Subiaco, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (Curtin University of Technology).
• LLB(Hons) (University of London).
• GradDipLegPrac (University of Western Australia).
• Solicitor (Senior Associate) at Freehills from 1999 to 2008.