Chosen by the Parliament of Queensland on 30.10.1997 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice C Kernot (resigned) (term ended 30.6.2002). Elected 2001 (term began 1.7.2002). Defeated at general elections 2007 (term ended 30.6.2008).

Temporary Chair of Committees from 10.11.98 to 15.10.02 and from 12.2.08 to 30.6.08.

Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances from 25.11.98 to 30.6.08; Selection of Bills from 13.12.04 to 30.6.08; Appropriations and Staffing from 8.2.05 to 30.6.08; Procedure from 8.2.05 to 30.6.08.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References Committee from 30.10.97 to 11.2.02 and Legislation Committee from 2.3.98 to 12.10.99; Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: Legislation Committee from 30.10.97 to 2.3.98; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Legislation Committee from 30.9.99 to 11.5.04 and from 8.2.05 to 30.6.05 and References Committee from 23.6.05 to 11.9.06; Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 11.9.06 to 11.2.08; Environment, Communications and the Arts from 13.2.08 to 30.6.08; Legal and Constitutional: Legislation and References Committees from 23.6.05 to 11.9.06; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 11.9.06 to 30.6.08.

Senate Select: A Certain Maritime Incident from 14.2.02 to 23.10.02; Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters from 23.6.03 to 31.3.04; Lindeberg Grievance from 1.4.04 to 16.11.04; Scrafton Evidence from 18.11.04 to 9.12.04; Housing Affordability in Australia from 14.2.08 to 30.6.08.

Joint Standing: Migration from 30.10.97 to 30.6.08; Electoral Matters from 8.12.98 to 9.3.04; Treaties from 7.3.00 to 18.11.02 and from 13.12.02 to 30.6.08; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1.7.02 to 18.11.02 and from 9.12.05 to 30.6.08; Australian Crime Commission from 9.11.06 to 11.2.08.

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, June 2005.

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to Turkey and Ireland, October 2005.

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to New Zealand, August 2006.

Leader of the Australian Democrats from 5.10.02 to 13.12.04.

Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats from 13.12.04 to 30.6.08.

Australian Democrats Whip in the Senate from 13.12.04 to 30.6.08.

Spokesperson for Australian Democrats on Animal Welfare; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Social Security; Sport; Veterans' Affairs from 30.10.97 to 12.12.97; Housing; Social Security; Veterans' Affairs; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Population; Gay and Lesbian Issues; Animal Welfare; Sport from 12.12.97 to 1.1.99; Animal Welfare; Electoral Matters; Environment; Gay and Lesbian Issues; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Income Support; Veterans' Affairs; Welfare and Community Housing from 1.1.99 to 11.10.99; Electoral Matters; Environment; Gay and Lesbian Issues; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Income Support; Veterans' Affairs; Welfare and Community Housing from 11.10.99 to 14.2.01; Animal Welfare; Electoral Matters; Environment; Gay and Lesbian Issues; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Income Support; Veterans' Affairs; Welfare and Community Housing from 14.2.01 to 14.4.01; Animal Welfare; Environment; Forestry and Conservation; Housing, Community and Welfare; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Social Security and Income Support; Trade; Veterans' Affairs from 14.4.01 to 9.8.01; Animal Welfare; Environment; Forestry and Conservation; Housing, Community and Welfare; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Social Security and Income Support; Veterans' Affairs from 9.8.01 to 1.7.02; Animal Welfare; Defence; Environment; Forestry and Conservation; Housing, Community and Welfare; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Territories and Pacific Affairs; Veterans' Affairs from 1.7.02 to 21.8.02; Animal Welfare; Defence; Environment; Forestry and Conservation; Housing, Community and Welfare; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Sport; Territories and Pacific Affairs; Veterans' Affairs from 21.8.02 to 24.10.02; Animal Welfare; Children and Youth Affairs; Defence; Environment; Housing; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Treasury; Treaties; Veterans' Affairs from 24.10.02 to 2.4.04; Animal Welfare; Children and Youth Affairs; Defence; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Prime Minister and Cabinet; Treasury; Treaties from 2.4.04 to 13.12.04; Animal Welfare; Children and Youth Affairs; Defence; Environment; Heritage; Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Veterans' Affairs from 13.12.04 to 1.7.05; and Agriculture from 14.3.05 to 1.7.05; Environment and Animal Welfare; Family and Community Services; Immigration; Indigenous Affairs from 1.7.05 to 30.6.08.

Secretary, Australian Democrats (Qld) 1990-93.

Deputy President, Australian Democrats (Qld) 1995.

President, Australian Democrats (Qld) 1996-97.

Campaign Director, Australian Democrats (Qld) 1992-93 and 1995-97.

Candidate at local, state and federal elections 1991, 1992 and 1996.

Editor, Australian Democrats National Journal 1994-97.

National Campaign Director, Australian Democrats from 1998.

Born 4.8.1964, Brisbane, Qld.

Married.

BA, BSocWk (Qld).

Social worker 1989-90.

Electorate officer to Senator C Kernot 1990-93.

Electorate officer to Senator J Woodley 1993-97.

Representation and Institutional Change: 50 years of Proportional Representation in the Senate (ed. M Sawer and S Miskin), Canberra: Dept of the Senate, 1999.