In addition to serving the people of Fairfax and working every day to support our community, I’m also deeply involved in parliamentary proceedings throughout the year.
I’m honoured to serve as the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this role, I represent the Opposition on matters of international relations, global security and Australia’s place in the world.
I lead our engagement on foreign affairs in Parliament - holding the Government to account, contributing to debate, and advocating for policies that strengthen Australia’s strategic partnerships and advance our national interest.
You can access my recent speeches and contributions in Parliament HERE.
In my maiden speech to the 45th Parliament, I made a very clear commitment:
I will always be the Sunshine Coast’s man in Canberra - not Canberra’s man on the Sunshine Coast.
That wasn’t just a line in a speech. It’s how I approach this job every single day.
With my background in business, I’m focused on outcomes. I set clear priorities for our region and then apply a laser focus to getting results. For me, it’s not about headlines, it’s about delivery.
In Canberra, that means putting Fairfax issues firmly on the national agenda. I raise them in Parliament, in the Coalition Party Room and directly with Ministers in one-on-one meetings. I work closely with my Sunshine Coast and Queensland colleagues to make sure our region’s voice is strong, united and impossible to ignore.
I also believe in bringing decision-makers here, so they can see firsthand the strength, innovation and potential of our community. Since 2016, I’ve hosted the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and a wide range of senior Ministers covering foreign affairs, industry, health, environment, defence, agriculture, infrastructure, regional development and tourism.
Because when Canberra sees what we see every day on the Sunshine Coast, it’s much easier to secure the support and investment our region deserves.
There are three types of committees that Coalition Members of Parliament work on:
These are internal Coalition committees where members of the Backbench meet together to look into relevant pieces of legislation.
These are committees where members from all parties come together to look into matters specific to the relevant portfolios.
Joint committees are established by resolution or legislation agreed to by both houses and membership consists of both Members and Senators.
The House of Representatives sits from 9:00am until 8:00pm from Monday until Thursday with a few variations – the House doesn’t sit on Tuesday mornings due to Party meetings for all sides and the House rises at 5:00pm on a Thursday afternoon. A copy of the timetable for a sitting week is below and can be downloaded here. The sitting schedule for 2022 can be downloaded here.
Within these hours, the Parliament attends to a variety of business as outlined below.
When legislation is brought before the House, I take my responsibility seriously and ensure the Sunshine Coast’s voice is heard. If a law affects our region, our businesses or our families, I will speak on it.
During Question Time each sitting day, I use the opportunity to hold the Government to account. I regularly put direct questions to the Prime Minister and senior Ministers on issues that matter to the Sunshine Coast and to Australia.
I consistently take the opportunity to speak in Parliament on issues that matter most to our region, ensuring the priorities of the Sunshine Coast are represented at the national level.
MPI provides the opportunity to debate issues of national significance. I use this forum to challenge Labor and advocate strongly for our community and our country.
This process enables me to move motions or introduce legislation in Parliament. One of my first motions focused on upgrading the Bruce Highway, recognising the importance of improving safety and reducing congestion on this critical road for our region.
When I’m in Canberra, I make it a priority to meet with government departments, industry leaders, community organisations and advocacy groups. These briefings allow me to listen carefully, stay informed and ensure the issues that matter most to Fairfax are represented in national conversations.
