Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for Elizabeth, 1984. Resigned 18.2.1994 to contest House of Representatives division of Bonython, South Australia at by-election.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Bonython, South Australia at by-election 1994, vice the Hon. Dr N Blewett (resigned). Re-elected 1996, 1998 and 2001. Defeated at general elections 2004.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 23.6.2004 to 31.8.2004.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Banking, Finance and Public Administration served from 10.5.1994 to 29.1.1996; Televising of the House of Representatives served from 10.5.1994 to 29.1.1996; Industry, Science and Technology served from 22.9.1994 to 31.8.1998; Science and Innovation served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Publications served from 24.6.2003 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Select: Certain Family Law Issues served from 6.6.1995 to 6.6.1995; Certain Family Law Issues served as Chair from 7.6.1995 to 28.11.1995
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004
• Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 10.5.1994 to 29.1.1996

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Leader, Official Delegation to 15th AIPO General Assembly and bilateral visits, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, September-October 1994.
• Bilateral visit to Republic of Korea and Malaysia, June 1998.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the European Institutions, Strasbourg, Belgium and Luxembourg, June 2000.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Iran and Jordan, October-November 2002.
• Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa, December 2002.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 19.03.1994 to 09.10.2004
• Shadow Minister for Science and Information Technology from 20.3.1996 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Science and Resources from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.

Party positions

• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Council (SA).
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (SA).
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1973 to 1984.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party from 1993.

Personal

• Born: 27.11.1953, Birmingham, England
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• GradDipBusAdmin (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology).
• BSc (University of Adelaide).
• Government Administrative Officer (SA) from 1975 to 1984.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for Elizabeth, 1984. Resigned 18.2.1994 to contest House of Representatives division of Bonython, South Australia at by-election.
• Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees from 8.2.1990 to October 1992.
• Minister for the Aged from 1.10.1992 to 14.12.1993.
• Minister for Health, Family and Community Services from 1.10.1992 to 14.12.1993.
• Shadow Minister assisting with Information Technology Matters from 14.12.1993 to 18.2.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services from 14.12.1993 to 18.2.1994.
• Shadow Minister for Health from 14.12.1993 to 18.2.1994.
• Shadow Treasurer from 14.12.1993 to 18.2.1994.

Local Government service

• Member, Elizabeth City Council from 1975 to 1984.
• Mayor, Elizabeth City Council from 1981 to 1984.

Electorate

• Name: Bonython
• Location: northern outskirts of Adelaide; it includes the cities of Playford and Salisbury, and the suburbs of Elizabeth, Craigmore, Parafield Gardens and Paralowie.
• Area: 269 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 85,484 (at 10.11.2001)
• Industries: clothing, car manufacturing, market gardens, vineyards.
• Includes: Bonython includes the South Australian House of Assembly electorate of Ramsay, and parts of Elizabeth, Light, Napier, Port Adelaide, Taylor and Wright.