Deborah is a Labor Senator for New South Wales.

She is the Chair of the Privileges committee in the 46th Parliament and also sits on the Education and Employment, Community Affairs and Corporations and Financial Services committees.

She first entered Federal politics in 2010, when she was elected as the Member for Robertson. She was elected as a Senator for New South Wales in 2016.

Before entering Federal Parliament, Deb was a high school teacher on the Central Coast for the best part of three decades. She was also a lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, where she co-ordinated courses in teacher education.

Deb grew up in Western Sydney before moving to the Central Coast. Her connection to the Central Coast community through education guided her into politics. Here she saw the power of the Parliament, combined with her passion for social justice, in bringing people together to create a more inclusive society free from inequality of opportunity.

She is passionate about ensuring all Australian men and women, regardless of their circumstances, have access to secure work, income and a world-class health and education system. Deb lives on the Central Coast with her husband Paul and they have three children.