I live in Lilli Pilli with my wife Jenny and baby daughters, Abbey and Lily. I believe there is no better place to live and raise a family than in the Shire.
This means supporting our local community organisations, clubs and institutions and fostering the informal networks that make our community tick. I believe these are the first responsibilities of any local MP.
Only by focusing on community, can we build our capacity to work together to address the many challenges we face – from caring for our local environment, to helping young people prepare for their future, supporting families to stay together as they cope with rising costs of living and looking after the needs of our older residents.
My commitment to community is inherited from my parents, who taught me that success in life was about what you contributed, rather than what you accumulated.
I grew up in Bronte. My father was a policeman and my mother worked in various administrative jobs to help support our family. I have also been highly active in church life from a young age. My Christian faith remains the driving force for my family, beliefs and values. My family and I are members of Shire Live Church, at Sutherland.
Prior to entering politics I worked for 15 years as a CEO and senior executive in various industry bodies and government agencies, both within Australia and overseas, including Managing Director of Tourism Australia and State Director of the Liberal Party.
I was elected as the Federal Member for Cook in November 2007, following the retirement of the Hon. Bruce Baird, who represented the electorate since 1998.
In September 2008 I was appointed as Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government before being appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in 2009.