Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2013. Re-elected 2016 and 2019.

Committee service

• Senate Standing: Scrutiny of Bills from 1.9.2016.
• Senate Select: Health from 17.9.2015 to 9.5.2016; Stillbirth Research and Education from 28.3.2018 to 4.12.2018; Electric Vehicles from 27.6.2018 to 30.1.2019; Administration of Sports Grants from 6.2.2020.
• Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Finance and Public Administration: Legislation from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References from 7.7.2014 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment: Legislation from 4.2.2016 to 10.5.2016 (Substitute member from 4.2.2016 to 10.5.2016); Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation from 3.3.2016 to 11.5.2016 (Substitute member from 3.3.2016 to 11.5.2016); Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 17.3.2016 to 9.5.2016 (Substitute member from 17.3.2016 to 9.5.2016); Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: References from 1.9.2016; Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation from 1.9.2016; Finance and Public Administration: References from 20.3.2017 to 9.6.2017 (Substitute member from 20.3.2017 to 9.6.2017); Environment and Communications: References from 15.6.2017 to 20.3.2019 (Substitute member from 15.6.2017 to 20.3.2019); Economics: References from 22.6.2017 to 14.9.2017 (Substitute member from 22.6.2017 to 14.9.2017); Finance and Public Administration: References from 16.8.2017 to 15.12.2017 (Substitute member from 16.8.2017 to 15.12.2017); Economics: References from 16.11.2017 to 6.7.2018 (Substitute member from 16.11.2017 to 6.7.2018); Legal and Constitutional Affairs: References from 14.11.2018 to 26.11.2018 (Substitute member from 14.11.2018 to 26.11.2018); Finance and Public Administration: Legislation from 6.12.2018 to 8.2.2019 (Substitute member from 6.12.2018 to 8.2.2019); Legal and Constitutional Affairs: Legislation from 6.12.2018 to 14.2.2019 (Substitute member from 6.12.2018 to 14.2.2019); Environment and Communications: Legislation from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019 (Deputy Chair from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019); Environment and Communications: References from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019 (Chair from 4.7.2019 to 16.9.2019).

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Forests; Tourism; Transport and Infrastructure from 1.7.2014 to 25.5.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Marriage Equality; Forests; Tourism from 25.5.2015 to 15.9.2015.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Forests; Tourism; Mental Health from 15.9.2015 to 25.8.2016.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson on Transport and Infrastructure; Forests; Gender identities and Intersex issues; LGBTIQ; Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 25.8.2016 to 5.7.2019.
• Australian Greens Spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure, Forests, LGBTIQ, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sport, Science, Research and Innovation (Senate) from 5.7.2019.

Party positions

• Founding member of the Australian Greens State Branch (Vic.) from 1992.
• Member of the Australian Greens State Council (Vic.) from 1992.
• Member of the Australian Greens Executive Committee (Vic.) from 1992 to 2004.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2001.
• Life Member of the Australian Greens State Branch (Vic.) from 2002.
• Co-convener of the Australian Greens State Branch (Vic.) from 2003 to 2004.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2008.
• Delegate to the Global Greens Congress, 2012.

Personal

• Born 18.11.1960, Altona, Australia
• Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BSc(Hons) (University of Melbourne).
• Environment campaigner, Conservation Council of Victoria and East Gippsland Coalition 1983-90.
• Water Policy Officer, Dept of Water Resources (Vic.) 1985-86.
• Senior Consultant, Context Pty Ltd 1991.
• Ride to Work Coordinator, Bicycle Victoria 1993-97.
• Senior Consultant, Context Pty Ltd 1997-2002.
• Principal Consultant, Janet Rice Facilitation and Community Involvement 2003-14.
• Campaign manager, Australian Greens (Vic.) and C Hartland MLC (Vic.) 2008-10.
• Strategic Transport Planner 2011-12.

Local government service

• Councillor, City of Maribyrnong from 2003 to 2008.
• Chair, Metropolitan Transport Forum from 2004 to 2008.
• Board Member, Victorian Local Governance Association from 2005 to 2008.
• Mayor, City of Maribyrnong from 2005 to 2006.
• Vice-President, Victorian Local Governance Association from 2007 to 2008.