Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Batman, Victoria, 1996. Re-elected 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the National Library of Australia Council from 12.8.1999 to 13.5.2008.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Resources and Energy from 3.12.2007 to 25.3.2013.
• Minister for Tourism from 3.12.2007 to 25.3.2013.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 25.3.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Employment, Education and Training served from 30.5.1996 to 31.8.1998; Procedure served from 8.12.1998 to 31.8.2004; Privileges served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Industry and Resources served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007
• Joint Standing: Migration served from 17.11.1997 to 31.8.1998

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to the UK, Poland and Italy from June to July 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, March 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Papua New Guinea, April 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Timor-Leste, May 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Saudi Arabia and the USA, June 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Hong Kong, China, Japan and Thailand, August 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Japan and India, November 2008.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, December 2008.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, January 2009.
• Attended official meetings in China and South Korea from March to April 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Italy and Norway, May 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Egypt from June to July 2009.
• Attended official meetings in China, August 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Qatar, the UK China and France, October 2009.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, January 2010.
• Attended official meetings in India, February 2010.
• Attended official meetings in China, March 2010.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, December 2010.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, January 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, April 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Taiwan from June to July 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Japan and South Korea, July 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia from July to August 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Brunei, China, Japan and South Korea, September 2011.
• Attended official meetings in France and the UK, October 2011.
• Attended official meetings in China and India, November 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, January 2012.
• Attended official meetings in Kuwait, March 2012.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, April 2012.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand and China from May to June 2012.
• Attended official meetings in Russia and Norway, June 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 02.03.1996 to 05.08.2013
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Training from 20.3.1996 to 26.8.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 3.12.2007.
• Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition on Multicultural Affairs from 26.8.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Employment, Training, Population and Immigration from 26.8.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Population from 20.10.1998 to 3.10.1999.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Services and Population from 3.10.1999 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure from 25.11.2001 to 23.8.2002.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism from 23.8.2002 to 2.7.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Urban and Regional Development, Transport and Infrastructure from 2.7.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources and Tourism from 26.10.2004 to 24.6.2005.
• Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism from 24.6.2005 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (NSW).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1968.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party Guildford Branch (NSW) from 1972 to 1974.
• President of the Australian Labor Party Guildford Branch (NSW) from 1974 to 1978.
• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party Guildford Branch (NSW) from 1978 to 1990.
• Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party (NSW) from 1983 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 12.12.1953, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEc(Hons) (University of Sydney).
• Research Officer for the Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1975 to 1981.
• Assistant General Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1981 to 1984.
• General Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1984 to 1990.
• Member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive from 1984 to 1990.
• Vice-President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1985 to 1990.
• President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1990 to 1996.
• Member of the International Labour Organisation Governing Body from 1990 to 1996.
• Life Member of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union from 1995.

Electorate

• Name: Batman
• Location: north-eastern Melbourne; it includes the suburbs of Kingsbury, Northcote, Preston, Reservoir and Thornbury, and parts of Alphington, Bundoora, Coburg North, Fairfield and Macleod.
• Area: 53 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 89,160 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: light engineering, textiles, clothing and footwear.
• Includes: Batman includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Preston, and parts of Bundoora, Northcote and Thomastown

Honours

• Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, 11.6.1996.