Biography

Parliamentary service

• Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 22.2.1994 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice B Archer (resigned). (term ended 30.06.1999). Re-elected 1998 (term began 01.07.1999). 2004, 2010 and 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence from 21.10.98 to 30.1.01
• Special Minister of State from 30.1.01 to 27.1.06
• Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation from 27.1.06 to 3.12.07
• Minister for Employment from 18.9.13 to 21.9.15
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service from 18.9.13 to 21.9.15
• Cabinet Minister from 18.09.2013 to 21.09.2015

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances from 24.02.1994 to 29.04.1996; Senators' Interests from 24.03.1994 to 08.02.2001; Selection of Bills from 20.03.2007 to 11.02.2008; Procedure from 20.06.2007 to 11.02.2008; Procedure from 03.02.2009 to 09.05.2016; Privileges from 04.02.2016 to 09.05.2016; Privileges from 01.09.2016; Senators' Interests from 12.09.2016 to 28.11.2016.
• Senate Select: Unresolved Whistleblower Cases from 01.12.1994 to 26.10.1995; Victorian Casino Inquiry from 20.05.1996 to 05.12.1996; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures from 23.02.2016 to 15.03.2016; Charity Fundraising in the 21st Century from 27.06.2018.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Environment, Recreation and the Arts from 01.03.1994 to 10.10.1994; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References from 10.10.1994 to 29.04.1996; Legal and Constitutional: References from 10.10.1994 to 09.11.1998; Legal and Constitutional: Legislation from 10.10.1994 to 17.10.1994; Legal and Constitutional: Legislation from 08.05.1996 to 09.11.1998 (Chair from 03.03.1997 to 09.11.1998); Environment and Communications: Legislation from 04.02.2016 to 15.03.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation from 04.02.2016 to 09.05.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation from 01.09.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation from 01.09.2016 to 12.02.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References from 10.09.2018.
• Senate Estimates: D from 28.02.1994 to 12.05.1994; F from 12.05.1994 to 10.10.1994.
• Joint Statutory: Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund from 31.05.1996 to 08.02.2001 (Chair from 19.06.1996 to 04.06.1997); Law Enforcement from 12.09.2016; Public Accounts and Audit from 15.02.2017; Intelligence and Security from 07.02.2018.
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters from 28.03.1995 to 03.09.1997; Treaties from 31.05.1996 to 31.08.1998; Trade and Investment Growth from 12.09.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 10.09.2018.
• Joint Select: Republic Referendum from 21.06.1999 to 09.08.1999; Government Procurement from 01.12.2016.

Parliamentary party positions

• Manager, Government Business in the Senate from 9.3.07 to 17.10.07
• Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 6.12.07 to 3.5.10
• Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 6.12.07 to 18.9.13
• Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research from 6.12.07 to 8.12.09
• Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations from 8.12.09 to 18.9.13
• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 3.5.10 to 18.9.13
• Leader of the Government in the Senate from 18.9.13 to 21.9.15

Party positions

• President, Australian Liberal Students' Federation 1978
• State President, Liberal Party (Tas.) 1990-94

Personal

• Born 25.01.1958, Stuttgart, Germany.
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• B.A (Tas.)
• LL.B (Tas.)
• Barrister and solicitor