Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Gippsland, Victoria, 1983. Re-elected 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Resigned 9.4.2008.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Science and Technology from 11.3.1996 to 9.10.1997.
• Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation from 21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister for Science from 26.11.2001 to 26.10.2004.
• Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 26.10.2004 to 6.7.2005.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 6.7.2005 to 3.12.2007.
• Cabinet Minister from 6.7.2005 to 3.12.2007.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Publications served from 10.5.1983 to 26.10.1984; Transport Safety served from 18.9.1985 to 5.6.1987; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 8.10.1987 to 19.2.1990; Privileges served from 16.5.1990 to 23.8.1995; Privileges served from 27.10.1995 to 29.1.1996; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 1.10.1997 to 31.8.1998; Privileges served from 23.10.1997 to 31.8.1998; Legal and Constitutional Affairs served from 10.3.1998 to 31.8.1998
• Joint Select: Telecommunications Interception served from 19.8.1986 to 20.11.1986
• Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory served from 12.5.1983 to 26.10.1984; Treaties served from 23.10.1997 to 31.8.1998
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts served from 8.12.1983 to 26.10.1984; National Crime Authority served from 11.10.1984 to 15.11.1990; Australian Security Intelligence Organization served from 31.8.1988 to 8.2.1993; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund served from 3.5.1994 to 30.8.1994; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 11.3.2008 to 9.4.2008

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Japan, March 1984.
• Delegate to the 73rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference, Togo, March 1985.
• Delegate to the International Youth Conference, Jamaica, April 1985.
• Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, Brisbane, July 1985.
• Parliamentary delegation member to Vietnam and Indonesia from January to February 1989.
• Delegate to the 36th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Zimbabwe, September 1990.
• Parliamentary delegation member to France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands from September to October 1992.
• Parliamentary delegation member to South Korea and Japan, July 1994.
• Delegate to the Langkawi International Dialogue, Singapore and Malaysia from July to August 1996.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, November 1996.
• Attended official meetings in Belgium, France and Luxembourg, June 2000.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, July 2000.
• Attended official meetings in France, Germany and New Caledonia, October 2000.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, May 2001.
• Attended official meetings in Argentina, September 2002.
• Attended official meetings in France, the UK and Israel from October to November 2002.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, December 2002.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, June 2003.
• Attended official meetings in China and Hong Kong from October to November 2003.
• Attended official meetings in France from January to February 2004.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, March 2004.
• Attended official meetings in India, France, the UK and Italy, November 2005.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and Canada from March to April 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, August 2006.
• Attended official meetings in China and South Korea from September to October 2006.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, November 2006.
• Attended official meetings in the USA from June to July 2007.

Parliamentary party positions

• The Nationals. Served: 11.10.2003 to 09.04.2008
• National Party of Australia. Served: 05.03.1983 to 11.10.2003
• Shadow Minister for Science and Energy from 16.9.1988 to 11.4.1990.
• Shadow Minister for Science and Technology from 11.4.1990 to 7.4.1993.
• Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy from 7.4.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 7.4.1993 to 11.3.1996.
• Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• National Party Spokesman on Attorney-General Matters from 30.4.1987 to 6.8.1987.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 11.3.1996 to 26.9.1997.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 21.10.1998 to 3.12.2007.

Personal

• Born: 16.11.1955, Yallourn, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• LLB (University of Melbourne).
• BA (University of Melbourne).
• Barrister and solicitor.

Electorate

• Name: Gippsland
• Location: eastern Victoria; it includes the towns of Bairnsdale, Cann River, Churchill, Heyfield, Lakes Entrance, Maffra, Mallacoota, Orbost, Rosedale, Sale, Stratford, Traralgon and Yarram.
• Area: 33,264 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 94,882 (at 24.11.2007)
• Industries: dairying, beef, fishing, forestry, sheep, cropping, sawmills, vegetables, oil, gas, tourism, correctional services, RAAF Base (East Sale).
• Includes: Gippsland includes the Victorian Legislative Assembly electorate of Gippsland East, and parts of Gippsland South, Morwell and Narracan.