Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Lyne, New South Wales, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 30.7.2008.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 31.1.1995 to 20.10.1997.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Transport and Regional Development from 9.10.1997 to 21.10.1998.
• Cabinet Minister from 9.10.1997 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 21.10.1998 to 20.7.1999.
• Minister for Trade from 20.7.1999 to 29.9.2006.
• Deputy Prime Minister from 6.7.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Minister for Transport and Regional Services from 29.9.2006 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Selection served from 7.5.1996 to 22.10.1997; Communications, Transport and Microeconomic Reform served as Chair from 29.5.1996 to 8.10.1997; Privileges served from 18.6.1996 to 23.10.1997; Communications served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 30.7.2008
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 12.5.1993 to 25.11.1997; National Crime Authority served from 26.5.1993 to 29.1.1996

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, November 1997.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, January 1999.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore, Indonesia, the UK, Belgium and Germany from February to March 1999.
• Attended official meetings in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay from August to September 1999.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, Singapore and Japan from September to October 1999.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland, Romania, Germany, France, the UK, Thailand and Singapore from October to November 1999.
• Attended official meetings in the USA from November to December 1999.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Singapore, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates from February to March 2000.
• Attended official meetings in China, May 2000.
• Attended official meetings in France, Germany, Belgium and Israel from June to July 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia and New Zealand, August 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Canada, India, Egypt, South Africa and Singapore, October 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Brunei and Singapore, November 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Malaysia, December 2000.
• Attended official meetings in Taiwan and Indonesia, February 2001.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, April 2001.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, Belgium and France, May 2001.
• Attended official meetings in Japan and China, June 2001.
• Attended official meetings in Vietnam, Mexico, Uruguay and Chile from August to September 2001.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore, October 2001.
• Attended official meetings in Qatar, November 2001.
• Attended official meetings in the USA from January to February 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, Fiji and New Caledonia, March 2002.
• Attended official meetings in China, Japan and South Korea, April 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Mexico, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the UK and Thailand from May to June 2002.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Malaysia and Singapore, July 2002.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, August 2002.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Brunei, September 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Bolivia, the USA and Mexico, October 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore, November 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, Singapore and India, February 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Vietnam and Indonesia, March 2003.
• Attended official meetings in the USA from April to May 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, the UK, Switzerland and Egypt from May to June 2003.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and Canada from July to August 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Cambodia, Mexico and the USA, September 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, October 2003.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, November 2003.
• Attended official meetings in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait, December 2003.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and Costa Rica from January to February 2004.
• Attended official meetings in China, April 2004.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, France, Belgium and USA, May 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Chile, the USA and Brazil, June 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland, July 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, September 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Chile, November 2004.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, December 2004.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland from January to February 2005.
• Attended official meetings in China and Kenya, March 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina from March to April 2005.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, France and Turkey from April to May 2005.
• Attended official meetings in South Korea from May to June 2005.
• Attended official meetings in China, July 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Malaysia, August 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Thailand, Laos and Switzerland from September to October 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland and Hong Kong, December 2005.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland, January 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, February 2006.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and UK, March 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland and France from April to May 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Vietnam from May to June 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Switzerland from June to July 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Malaysia, August 2006.
• Attended official meetings in China, December 2006.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 30.07.2008
• National Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1993 to 11.10.2003
• National Party Assistant Whip in the House of Representatives from 2.6.1994 to 29.4.1996.
• National Party Whip in the House of Representatives from 29.4.1996 to 21.10.1997.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary National Party from 1.7.1999 to 11.10.2003.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 11.10.2003 to 23.6.2005.
• Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Nationals from 23.6.2005 to 26.11.2007.

Party positions

• Member of the National Party from 1978.
• Chair of the National Party Wingham Branch (NSW) from 1982 to 1986.
• Secretary of the National Party Lyne Federal Electorate Council (NSW) from 1984 to 1990.

Other positions

• Chair of the Manning Valley Tourist Association.
• Chair of the Wingham Chamber of Commerce from 1980 to 1985.

Personal

• Born: 18.4.1956, Sydney, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Jackeroo from 1973 to 1975.
• Farm machinery retailer from 1975 to 1978.
• Stock, station and real estate agent and auctioneer from 1978 to 1992.

Local Government service

• Alderman, Greater Taree City Council from 1985 to 1993.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1986 to 1987.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1991 to 1992.
• Deputy Mayor, Greater Taree City Council from 1992 to 1993.

Electorate

• Name: Lyne
• Location: north central coast of New South Wales; it includes the centres of Bonny Hills, Crescent Head, Harrington, Kendall, Lake Cathie, Laurieton, North Haven, Old Bar, Port Macquarie, Taree, Wauchope and Wingham.
• Area: 9,039 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 86,814 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: timber, beef and dairy cattle, mixed farming, fishing and oyster farming, boat building, engineering and tourism.
• Includes: Lyne includes parts of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorates of Myall Lakes, Oxley and Port Macquarie.

Honours

• Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, 11.6.2012.