Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Tasmania 2016. Re-elected 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Temporary Chair of Committees from 19.9.2018 to 29.5.2019.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries from 29.5.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism from 29.5.2019 to 22.12.2020.
• Assistant Minister for Industry Development from 22.12.2020 to 23.5.2022.

Committee service

• Joint Select: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse served from 22.6.2017 to 15.12.2017; Constitutional Recognition Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (2018) served from 22.3.2018 to 29.11.2018
• Joint Standing: National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 12.9.2016 to 3.4.2019; National Capital and External Territories served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Parliamentary Library served from 12.9.2016 to 11.4.2019
• Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 12.9.2016 to 28.11.2016
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Community Affairs: References served from 1.9.2016 to 27.6.2018; Environment and Communications: Legislation served from 1.9.2016 to 20.8.2017; Community Affairs: Legislation served as Chair from 1.9.2016 to 21.8.2017; Environment and Communications: References served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Environment and Communications: Legislation served as Chair from 21.8.2017 to 1.7.2019; Community Affairs: Legislation served from 22.8.2017 to 27.6.2018; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation served from 13.2.2019 to 25.2.2019; Environment and Communications: References served from 20.6.2023 to present
• Senate Select: Resilience of Electricity Infrastructure in a Warming World served from 24.11.2016 to 7.4.2017; Strengthening Multiculturalism served from 1.12.2016 to 17.8.2017; Future of Public Interest Journalism served from 11.5.2017 to 5.2.2018; Energy Planning and Regulation in Australia served from 17.9.2024 to 20.12.2024
• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills served from 1.9.2016 to 1.7.2019; Publications served from 12.9.2016 to 5.2.2018; Procedure served from 13.2.2019 to 25.7.2022; Appropriations, Staffing and Security served from 2.7.2019 to 25.7.2022

Parliamentary party positions

• Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 02.07.2016 to present
• Shadow Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 5.6.2022 to 28.5.2025.
• Shadow Minister for the Environment from 5.6.2022 to 28.5.2025.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 5.6.2022.
• Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 25.1.2025.
• Shadow Minister for Education and Early Learning from 28.5.2025.
• Government Deputy Whip in the Senate from 12.2.2019 to 29.5.2019.
• Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 2.7.2019.

Party positions

• Officeholder of the Southern Young Liberals Bellerive and Western Franklin Branches (Tas.).
• Delegate to the Liberal Party State Council (Tas.).
• Officeholder of the Liberal Party Franklin Branch (Tas.).
• Member of the Liberal Party (Tas.) from 2001.
• Vice-President of the Liberal Party Franklin Branch (Tas.) from 2008 to 2009.
• Member of the Liberal Party Constitutional Review Committee from 2009 to 2011.

Personal

• Born: 31.12.1982, Launceston, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Tasmania).
• LLB (University of Tasmania).
• Electorate Officer for Senator the Hon. P Calvert from 2003 to 2005.
• Adviser to Senator the Hon. E Abetz from 2005 to 2009.
• Chief of Staff to Senator the Hon. S Parry from 2009 to 2010.
• Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition (Tas.) the Hon. W Hodgman MP from 2010 to 2014.
• Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier (Tas.) the Hon. W Hodgman MP from 2014 to 2016.