Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Bowman, Queensland, 2004. Re-elected 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. Retired prior to general elections 2022.

Parliamentary appointments

• Member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO from 2005.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 28.2.2006 to 17.10.2007; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 11.3.2008 to 10.11.2008; Health served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Indigenous Affairs served from 25.9.2014 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment served as Chair from 13.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Employment, Education and Training served from 14.9.2016 to 18.10.2016; Health, Aged Care and Sport served from 14.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Employment, Education and Training served as Chair from 19.10.2016 to 11.4.2022; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Economics served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022
• Joint Select: Australia Fund Establishment served from 25.9.2014 to 30.10.2014; Australia Fund Establishment served as Chair from 31.10.2014 to 25.6.2015
• Joint Standing: Treaties served from 14.2.2007 to 17.10.2007; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 6.2.2018 to 1.7.2019
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Human Rights served from 4.12.2013 to 25.9.2014; Public Accounts and Audit served from 14.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 4.7.2019 to 11.4.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 09.10.2004 to 11.04.2022
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services and Indigenous Health from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Party positions

• Member of the Liberal Party Kawana Branch (Qld) from 1993 to 2001.
• Member of the Liberal Party Wynnum Manly Branch (Qld) from 2001 to 2003.
• Member of the Liberal Party Cleveland Branch (Qld) from 2003.

Personal

• Born: 30.9.1966, Hobart, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• MBBS (University of Queensland).
• DRCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists).
• FRANZCO (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists).
• MPhil (University of Sydney).
• MPA (Harvard University).
• MPol&PubPol (Charles Darwin University).
• CertIVFitness (TAFE Mooloolaba).
• Medical practitioner from 1990 to 1991.
• Landmine clearer, rigger and gymnasium manager, 1992.
• Medical practitioner, 1993.
• Aboriginal health researcher, 1995.
• Ophthalmology registrar from 1996 to 1998.
• Senior ophthalmology registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Friends In Deed Organisation (FIDO), 1999.
• World Bank consultant and travel writer, 2000.
• Health planning specialist, 2001.
• Ministerial adviser, 2002.
• Management consultant, 2003.

Military Service

• University of Queensland Regiment 1984-86.

Electorate

• Name: Bowman
• Location: The Division of Bowman consists of: part of the Redland City Council, and part of the Brisbane City Council.
• Area: 536 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 109,425 (at 10.6.2019)
• Industries: Farming, retail and industrial activities. Tourism on the islands and a winery at Mount Cotton.

Publications

• Lets go - Turkey (contribution, ed. ES Daniel and SK Quinlan), St Martins Press, New York, 2000.
• Founding editor, Kennedy School Review, Harvard University, 2000.
• Political Covid: how Australia's leadership played the pandemic (and other political stories), Connor Court Publishing, Redland Bay, Qld: 2023.