Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for New South Wales 1998. Defeated at general elections 2004.

Committee service

• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Economics: References served from 30.9.1999 to 23.6.2005; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 30.9.1999 to 23.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 15.2.2000 to 30.11.2000; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served from 6.8.2001 to 9.8.2001; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 6.8.2001 to 26.8.2001; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served as Chair from 27.8.2001 to 22.6.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 1.7.2002 to 30.6.2005; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References served from 1.7.2002 to 23.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 27.8.2002 to 31.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 27.8.2002 to 31.8.2004; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2002 to 31.8.2004; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 6.3.2003 to 28.5.2003; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 13.8.2003 to 10.9.2003; Economics: Legislation served as Substitute member from 11.2.2004 to 30.8.2004; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 23.6.2005; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 30.6.2005; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 18.11.2004 to 30.6.2005; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References served from 23.6.2005 to 23.6.2005
• Senate Select: Free Trade Agreement - Australia and the United States of America served from 12.2.2004 to 5.8.2004; Administration of Indigenous Affairs served from 17.6.2004 to 8.3.2005

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Attended Global Leaders of Tomorrow program as part of the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, February 2000.
• Attended Global Leaders of Tomorrow program as part of the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, February 2001.
• Addressed UN Special Session on Racism, USA, March 2001.
• Attended the World Conference Against Racism, South Africa, August-September 2001.
• Attended Global Leaders of Tomorrow program as part of the World Economic Forum, USA, February 2002.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Democrats. Served: 01.07.1999 to 30.06.2005
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Centenary of Federation; Financial Services and Regulations; Industry; Reconciliation; Republic; Tourism from 1.7.1999 to 11.10.1999.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Centenary of Federation; Financial Services and Regulation; Industry; Reconciliation; Republic; Tourism from 11.10.1999 to 14.2.2001.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Centenary of Federation; Financial Services and Regulation; Industry; Reconciliation; Tourism from 14.2.2001 to 1.7.2002.
• Deputy Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 6.4.2001 to 5.10.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Financial Services and Regulation; Human Rights (International); Industry; Overseas Aid; Reconciliation; Tourism; Trade from 1.7.2002 to 21.8.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts; Financial Services and Regulation; Human Rights (International); Indigenous Affairs; Industry; Overseas Aid; Reconciliation; Tourism; Trade from 21.8.2002 to 24.10.2002.
• Interim Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Democrats from 21.8.2002 to 22.8.2002.
• Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Arts and Sport; Consumer Affairs; Forestry; Indigenous Affairs; Industry, Small Business and Tourism; Trade and Overseas Development from 24.10.2002 to 30.6.2005.

Party positions

• Member of the Australian Democrats (NSW) from 1990.
• Convener of the Australian Democrats Policy Committee (NSW) from 1997 to 1998.

Personal

• Born: 18.9.1962, Macksville, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Yes

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Regional Councillor for ATSIC, Sydney (NSW) from 1990 to 1994.
• Executive Director of the Aboriginal Land Council (NSW) from 1994 to 1998.
• Member of the Australian Museum Trust from 1994.
• Member of the Geographical Names Board (NSW) from 1995.
• Director of the Public Service Board Staff Credit Union from 1996 to 1998.

Publications

• Reconciliation and national well-being, University of Canberra, Canberra: 1999.
• The legacy of William Cooper, Monash University, Melbourne: 2001.
• Race, identity and politics, University of New England, Armidale, NSW: 2005.