Parliamentary Service
Elected to the Senate for Victoria, 1993 (term began 1.7.93) and 1998.

Ministerial Appointments

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy from 9.10.97 to 21.10.98.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 21.10.98.

Committee Service

Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills from 17.8.93 (Chair from 12.10.94) to 29.4.96.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs from 1.7.93 to 10.10.94; Community Affairs: References Committee from 10.10.94 to 30.11.94; Rural and Regional Affairs from 21.10.93 to 7.12.93; Employment, Education and Training: Legislation Committee from 10.10.94 to 21.10.97 and References Committee from 30.11.94 to 21.10.97; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References Committee from 17.10.94 to 29.4.96; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References Committee from 1.7.96 to 21.10.97 and Legislation Committee from 1.7.96 (Chair from 1.7.96) to 10.11.97.

Participating member, Community Affairs: Legislation Committee from 11.10.94 to 29.4.96; Participating member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation Committee from 11.10.94 to 29.4.96 and References Committee from 9.5.96 to 30.6.96; Participating member, Economics: References Committee from 19.6.96 to 5.12.96.

Senate Select: Land Fund Bill from 30.11.94 to 9.2.95; Certain Land Fund Matters from 19.9.95 to 30.11.95; Community Standards Relevant to the Supply of Services Utilising Electronic Technologies from 22.5.96 to 26.6.97; Victorian Casino Inquiry from 15.10.96 to 5.12.96.

Senate Estimates: A from 19.8.93 to 9.2.94; E from 8.2.94 to 10.10.94.

Joint Statutory: National Crime Authority from 7.10.93 to 29.1.96.

Joint Standing: Migration from 31.5.96 to 10.11.97; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 13.2.97 to 22.10.97.

Conferences, Delegations and Visits

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA and Canada, March-April 1995.

Parliamentary Party Positions

Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 26.5.94 to 11.3.96. Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Employment, Training and Family Services from 26.5.94 to 11.3.96.

Party Positions

Liberal Party Branch President 1982-91.

Member, Liberal Party Policy Assembly and State Rural Committees 1985-92.

Member, Liberal Party Administrative Committee (Vic) 1988-92.

Country Vice-President, Liberal Party (Vic) 1989-92.

Chair, State Strategy Committee (Vic) 1991-92.

Chair, Federal Liberal Regional and Rural Committee from August 1996.

Personal

Born 3.8.40 at Brighton, Vic.

Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament

BA, DipEd (Melb).

Partner in family farm 1965-99.

Teacher 1962-65 and 1980-87.