Chosen by the Parliament of Tasmania on 25.8.2005 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice S Mackay (resigned). Elected 2007 Re-elected 2013 and 2016 and 2019.

Australian Labor Party. Served: 25.08.2005 to present

Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.2.2008 to 28.9.2010.

Temporary Chair of Committees from 2.7.2019 to 26.7.2022.

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport from 1.6.2022.

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments from 18.10.2013 to 23.7.2016.

Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Tourism from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Tasmania from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 27.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Joint Select: Parliamentary Standards served from 28.7.2022 to 29.11.2022

Joint Standing: Treaties served from 12.9.2005 to 17.10.2007; Electoral Matters served from 14.2.2008 to 5.8.2013; National Broadband Network served from 23.3.2011 to 21.6.2012; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 9.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Electoral Matters served from 14.5.2015 to 9.5.2016; Electoral Matters served from 12.9.2016 to 1.12.2016; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 11.10.2016 to 11.4.2019; Electoral Matters served from 8.2.2017 to 11.4.2019; National Capital and External Territories served from 22.7.2019 to 31.7.2019; Electoral Matters served as Deputy Chair from 25.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; National Disability Insurance Scheme served as Deputy Chair from 25.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; National Capital and External Territories served as Deputy Chair from 1.8.2019 to 11.4.2022

Joint Statutory: Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity served from 14.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 30.9.2010 to 21.6.2012; Human Rights served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Human Rights served from 12.9.2016 to 1.7.2019

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: Legislation served from 13.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Finance and Public Administration: References served from 13.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs: References served from 15.9.2005 to 10.9.2006; Community Affairs served from 11.9.2006 to 13.5.2009; Finance and Public Administration served from 11.9.2006 to 1.7.2008; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 27.3.2009 to 27.3.2009; Finance and Public Administration served as Substitute member from 7.4.2009 to 7.4.2009; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 14.5.2009 to 9.5.2016; Community Affairs: References served from 14.5.2009 to 25.2.2013; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation served as Substitute member from 15.6.2010 to 15.6.2010; Community Affairs: References served from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 17.3.2014 to 21.3.2014; Environment and Communications: References served as Substitute member from 1.3.2016 to 13.4.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 23.5.2018 to 23.5.2018; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation served as Substitute member from 22.10.2018 to 22.10.2018

Senate Select: Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 8.3.2016 to 8.3.2016; Scrutiny of Government Budget Measures served as Substitute member from 21.3.2016 to 30.4.2016; Autism served from 5.12.2019 to 24.2.2021; Autism served as Deputy Chair from 25.2.2021 to 1.6.2022

Senate Standing: Regulations and Ordinances served from 13.9.2005 to 1.7.2011; Publications served from 14.2.2008 to 19.3.2008; Publications served as Chair from 20.3.2008 to 11.11.2013; Selection of Bills served from 30.9.2010 to 11.11.2013; Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Senators' Interests served from 6.3.2014 to 1.7.2014; House served from 1.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; House served from 1.9.2016 to 1.6.2022; Publications served from 28.7.2022 to present

Member of the Parliamentary Group on Population Development.

Deputy Convener of Parliamentary Friends of Parkinson's.

Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Arthritis.

Deputy Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

Member of the Parliamentary Antarctic Alliance.

Member of Emily's List.

Assistant Secretary for Education and Training in the Australian Labor Party (Tas.).

Acting Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (Tas.), 2000.

Administrative Officer for the Australian Labor Party from 1984 to 1996.

Adviser to Senator S Mackay from 1996 to 1998.

Portfolio Services Manager at the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Tas.) from 1998 to 2002.

Adviser/Office Manager to the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment (Tas.) from 2002 to 2004.

Adviser/Office Manager to the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (Tas.) from 2004 to 2005.

Born: 19.7.1963, Hobart, Australia

Gender: Female

Marital Status: Partner