Member for Bendigo
Steve was born in Melbourne and lived in Echuca for five years before moving to Bendigo.
He was educated at Golden Square Primary School and Kangaroo Flat Secondary College (formerly Kangaroo Flat Technical College) before starting an apprenticeship in motor mechanics and subsequently working in the auto parts and wholesaling and packaging industries.
Steve also worked as a training assistant in the Mental Retardation Division of the Victorian Health Department. He joined the Liquor Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union as a full time official before working on the staff of former Victorian Premier Joan Kirner.
Steve established and operated a successful small business payroll and workplace relations consultancy, DataCalculations P/L, before entering Federal Parliament. Steve was first elected to represent the Bendigo electorate in 1998 and was re-elected in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. In Parliament, Steve has served on the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee for Communications, Transport and the Arts, the Standing Committee for Transport and Regional Services and the Standing Committee for Industry and Resources.
In 2003, he served on the House of Representatives Select Committee on Recent Australian Bushfires. He has also served on Joint Standing Committees for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from and for the Australian Crime Commission.
Steve’s hobbies are music, fishing and restoring classic cars and motorbikes.