Member for Barton
Robert was first elected as the Federal Member for Barton in March 1996. In October 1998 he was appointed Shadow Attorney-General and later served in a range of shadow portfolios including Workplace Relations, Justice, Homeland Security, Defence and Foreign Affairs. Robert served as the Federal Attorney-General from 2007 to 2011. He also served as the Minister for Emergency Management, Housing and Homelessness.
Today, Robert continues to represent his constituency in the Federal Parliament as the Member for Barton.
Robert has a strong attachment to the local area of St George, where he was born and raised. He attended Connells Point Primary School and Blakehurst High, where he was school captain in 1975. Robert still lives in the area with his wife and four children.
A former junior representative footballer, Robert still likes to play touch football and is a proud supporter of the St George Illawarra Dragons rugby league team. His other sporting passion is surfing.
He has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of NSW and a Master of Law from the University of Sydney. Before entering Federal Parliament he was a partner in the Sydney law firm Turner Freeman where he specialised in labour and sporting law.