Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1990. Re-elected 1996, 2001, 2007, 2013 and 2016.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member, Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 1.7.11

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment from 11.11.1996 to 21.10.1998.
• Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government from 21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001.
• Minister for Forestry and Conservation from 26.11.2001 to 14.11.2002.
• Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation from 14.11.2002 to 27.1.2006.

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills from 24.8.1990 to 1.6.1992; Appropriations and Staffing from 2.5.1996 to 1.7.2002; Senators' Interests from 2.5.1996 to 6.11.2000; Scrutiny of Bills from 16.3.2012 to 1.7.2014; Privileges from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges from 1.9.2016 to 6.10.2018; Treaties from 1.9.2016; Privileges from 21.10.2018.
• Senate Select: State Government Financial Management from 14.2.2008 to 18.9.2008; National Broadband Network from 26.6.2008 to 17.6.2010; Climate Policy from 17.3.2009 to 15.6.2009; Fuel and Energy from 18.3.2010 to 30.8.2010; Electricity Prices from 3.10.2012 to 4.10.2012; Certain Aspects of Queensland Government Administration related to Commonwealth Government Affairs from 1.10.2014 to 27.3.2015; Future of Work and Workers from 16.11.2017.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 24.8.1990 to 4.6.1992; Transport, Communications and Infrastructure from 11.9.1990 to 18.5.1993; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 10.10.1994 to 17.10.1994; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 2.5.1996 to 14.10.1996; Finance and Public Administration: References from 2.5.1996 to 29.5.1997; Finance and Public Administration: Legislation from 8.5.1996 to 14.12.1996 (Chair from 9.5.1996 to 14.12.1996); Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation from 9.5.1996 to 27.5.1997; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Finance and Public Administration from 23.3.2007 to 9.5.2007; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016 (Chair from 2.12.2013 to 9.5.2016); Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 13.11.2013 to 1.7.2014; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 13.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 1.9.2016 to 6.10.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 1.9.2016 to 6.10.2018 (Chair from 1.9.2016 to 6.10.2018); Economics: Legislation from 12.9.2016 to 28.11.2016; Economics: References from 12.9.2016 to 28.11.2016; Economics: References from 15.2.2017 to 22.3.2018; Economics: Legislation from 15.2.2017 to 22.3.2018; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 22.10.2018 (Chair from 22.10.2018).
• Senate Estimates: E from 24.8.1990 to 5.3.1992; D from 5.3.1992 to 20.8.1992; C from 20.8.1992 to 6.5.1993; E from 6.5.1993 to 8.2.1994; C from 8.2.1994 to 10.10.1994.
• Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority from 31.5.1996 to 12.2.1997; Public Accounts from 1.7.1996 to 29.11.1996; Australian Crime Commission from 27.2.2006 to 17.10.2007; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity from 27.10.2010 to 16.3.2012.
• Joint Standing: National Capital from 6.5.1992 to 20.5.1993; National Capital and External Territories from 20.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 31.5.1996 to 25.11.1996; Treaties from 23.3.2007 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 30.9.2010 to 9.5.2016; National Broadband Network from 3.3.2011 to 5.8.2013; Treaties from 1.9.2016; Northern Australia from 12.9.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 12.9.2016 to 6.10.2018 (Chair from 11.9.2018 to 6.10.2018); Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 21.10.2018 (Chair from 25.10.2018).
• Joint Select: Trade and Investment Growth from 25.9.2014 to 9.5.2016.

Parliamentary party positions

• Shadow Minister for Local Government and the Australian Capital Territory from 28.4.1992 to 26.5.1994.
• Member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 28.4.1992 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Development from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister for Infrastructure from 25.9.1994 to 11.3.1996.
• Shadow Minister Assisting the Opposition Leader from 6.12.2007 to 22.9.2008.
• Shadow Minister for Northern Australia from 6.12.2007 to 8.12.2009.
• Member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 6.12.2007 to 8.12.2009.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia from 8.12.2009 to 18.9.2013.
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Defence Force and Defence Support from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Queensland Country Vice-President, Young Liberals 1970-71
• Chair, Liberal Party Burdekin Branch 1980-83
• Chair, Liberal Party North Queensland Zone 1985-90
• Member, Liberal Party State Executive (Qld) 1985-90
• Vice-President, Liberal Party (Qld) 1987-90

Personal

• Born 29.11.1945, Brisbane, Australia
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia 1969-90