Elected to the House of Representatives for Calwell, Victoria, 2001. Re-elected 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Parliamentary appointments
Member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust from 28.7.2022.
Parliamentary positions
Member of the Speaker’s Panel from 20.10.2010 to 5.8.2013.
Member of the Speaker’s Panel from 1.9.2016.
Committee service
House of Representatives Standing: Procedure served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Employment and Workplace Relations served from 20.3.2002 to 31.8.2004; Communications, Information Technology and the Arts served from 25.5.2006 to 17.10.2007; Industry, Science and Innovation served as Chair from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Petitions served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Appropriations and Administration served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Communications and the Arts served from 10.11.2015 to 9.5.2016; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 28.7.2022 to 10.5.2023; Industry, Science and Resources served from 28.7.2022 to present
Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 18.3.2010 to 19.7.2010; Australia’s Immigration Detention Network served from 4.7.2011 to 30.3.2012; Road Safety served from 17.3.2021 to 25.3.2022; Parliamentary Standards served from 28.7.2022 to 29.11.2022
Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 2.12.2004 to 9.5.2016; Treaties served from 18.2.2008 to 26.11.2009; Migration served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 3.12.2013; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 15.9.2016 to present; Migration served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2022; Migration served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Migration served as Deputy Chair from 24.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Migration served as Chair from 3.8.2022 to present; Implementation of the National Redress Scheme served from 11.9.2023 to present
Joint Statutory: Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 2.12.2004 to 8.12.2004; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served as Deputy Chair from 9.12.2004 to 10.5.2005; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Account served from 11.5.2005 to 16.6.2005; Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings served from 25.10.2010 to 5.8.2013; Australian Crime Commission served from 25.10.2010 to 25.11.2010; Law Enforcement served from 25.11.2010 to 9.5.2016
Parliamentary party positions
Australian Labor Party. Served: 10.11.2001 to present
Party positions
Member of the Australian Labor Party Administrative Committee.
Delegate to the Australian Labor Party State Conference (Vic.).
Member of the Australian Labor Party Affirmative Action Working Party.
Officeholder of the Australian Labor Party local branch.
Personal
Born: 4.1.1959, Lefkada, Greece
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
DipEd (University of Melbourne).
BA (University of Melbourne).
High school teacher from 1982 to 1987.
Electorate Officer to Dr A Theophanous, MP, 1988.
Executive Assistant to the Hon. J Kirner, MLA, 1989.
Electorate Officer to Dr A Theophanous, MP, 1990.
Personal Secretary to the Hon. A McCutcheon, MLA, 1991.
Electorate Officer to Senator K Carr from 1993 to 2001.
Local Government service
Councillor, Northcote City Council from 1990 to 1992.
Electorate
Name: Calwell
Location: The Division of Calwell consists of: part of the Brimbank City Council, and part of the Hume City Council.
Area: 265 Sq km
Electors enrolled: 107,507 (at 11.6.2019)
Industries: Manufacturing, food processing, transport and freight, postal and warehousing, retail, construction, aviation, education and training, and tourism.
