State: Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Port Macquarie, 1996. Resigned 13.8.2008 to contest the House of Representatives division of Lyne, New South Wales at by-election.

Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Lyne, New South Wales at by-election, vice the Hon. M Vaile (resigned). Re-elected 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Member of the Speaker's Panel from 16.2.2012 to 5.8.2013.

House of Representatives Standing: Education and Training served from 10.11.2008 to 19.7.2010; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 11.5.2010 to 19.7.2010; Selection served from 30.9.2010 to 5.8.2013; Infrastructure and Communications served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013

Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 19.7.2010; Parliamentary Budget Office served from 23.11.2010 to 23.3.2011; Australia's Immigration Detention Network served from 17.8.2011 to 30.3.2012; Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples served from 29.11.2012 to 5.8.2013; Broadcasting Legislation served from 14.3.2013 to 24.6.2013

Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 19.3.2009 to 19.7.2010; Parliamentary Library served from 16.6.2010 to 19.7.2010; National Broadband Network served as Chair from 22.3.2011 to 5.8.2013

Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the Philippines, Cambodia and Malaysia, April-May 2009.

Born: 14.12.1969, Lismore, Australia

Gender: Male

Marital Status: Married

BA(Hons) (University of Sydney).

LLB (Macquarie University).

Assistant to lobbying firm Resolutions from 1992 to 1993.

Media officer to the Hon. M Vaile, MP from 1993 to 1996.

Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Port Macquarie, 1996. Resigned 13.8.2008 to contest the House of Representatives division of Lyne, New South Wales at by-election. .

Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 19.4.1999 to 9.3.2002.

Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation and Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Ports from 19.4.1999 to 9.3.2002.

Name: Lyne

Location: mid-north coast of New South Wales; it includes the centres of Bonny Hills, Crescent Head, Gloucester, Harrington, Kendall, Lake Cathie, Laurieton, North Haven, Old Bar, Port Macquarie, Taree, Wauchope and Wingham.

Area: 11,991 Sq km

Electors enrolled: 92,565 (at 21.8.2010)

Industries: timber, beef and dairy cattle, mixed farming, fishing and oyster farming, boat building, engineering, mining and tourism.

Includes: Lyne includes the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Port Macquarie, and parts of Myall Lakes, Oxley and Upper Hunter.