Activities

During the Parliamentary sitting weeks there are many opportunities to meet with groups who are lobbying politicians on a range of issues.These can range from community groups, advocating better policy outcomes for and formal briefings about major industry and international issues..

I am a member of several  groups including the Parliamentary Friends of the Millennium Development Goals, the Parliamentary UNICEF Association and the friends of the Red Cross.

There are also parliamentary groups that support Australia's relations with other countries. I chair the Australia-Ireland Friendship Group and the Australia- Russia Friendship Group. I'm also Secretary of the Australia-New Zealand Friendship Group and a member of many other groups supporting our international relations.

As an elected delegate to the InterParliamentary Union Assemblies for the 43rd Parliament, I travel twice a year to participate in international negotiations related to strengthening parliamentary processes, democracy and governance.  The most recent Assembly took place in Quito Ecuador in April 2013.

I am the current chair of the Parliamentary Fellowship, which supports Members, Senators and staff, and organises the Annual National Prayer Breakfast and the Ecumenical Services for the beginning of each Parliamentary year.