Elected to the Senate for South Australia 2004. Re-elected 2010. Defeated at general elections 2016.

Temporary Chair of Committees from 12.2.2008 to 4.9.2008.

Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills from 23.6.2005 to 30.6.2008; Senators' Interests from 1.7.2005 to 11.2.2008; Parliamentary Library from 1.7.2005 to 7.12.2005; Selection of Bills from 1.7.2008 to 9.5.2016 (Chair from 27.9.2010 to 11.11.2013); House from 26.10.2010 to 9.5.2016; Procedure from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Privileges from 12.2.2015 to 9.5.2016; Appropriations, Staffing and Security from 12.11.2015 to 9.5.2016.

Senate Select: Fuel and Energy from 1.7.2008 to 30.8.2010; Electricity Prices from 23.8.2012 to 1.11.2012; National Broadband Network from 26.3.2015 to 13.5.2015; Unconventional Gas Mining from 3.12.2015 to 9.5.2016.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation from 1.7.2005 to 11.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 1.7.2005 to 11.9.2006; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations from 11.9.2006 to 11.2.2008; Environment, Communications and the Arts from 12.2.2008 to 14.5.2009 (Chair from 12.2.2008 to 14.5.2009); Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 12.2.2008 to 14.5.2009; Economics from 17.3.2008 to 30.6.2008; Environment, Communications and the Arts: Legislation from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment, Communications and the Arts: References from 14.5.2009 to 27.9.2010; Environment and Communications: Legislation from 30.9.2010 to 1.7.2011; Finance and Public Administration: References from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation from 1.7.2011 to 11.11.2013; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: References from 12.11.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation from 6.3.2014 to 9.5.2016; Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 18.9.2015 to 18.9.2015 (Substitute member from 18.9.2015 to 18.9.2015); Environment and Communications: References from 18.4.2016 to 9.5.2016.

Joint Standing: Migration from 14.2.2008 to 1.7.2011; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 1.7.2011 to 9.5.2016.

Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 1.7.2008 to 27.9.2010.

Government Chief Whip in the Senate from 27.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Opposition Chief Whip in the Senate from 18.10.2013 to 9.5.2016.

Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Convention (SA) from 1996.

Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2004.

Senior Vice-President of the Australian Labor Party State Branch (SA), 2004.

President of the Australian Labor Party State Branch (SA), 2005.

Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2009.

Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2011.

Born 3.8.1954, Adelaide, Australia

BA (University of Adelaide).

Clerk and administrator prior to 1993.

Union organiser 1993-2002.

Secretary, Australian Services Union (SA and NT) 2002-05.

Awarded Centenary Medal, 01.01.2001.