Biography of The Hon Tim Watts MP

Parliamentary service

Elected to the House of Representatives for Gellibrand, Victoria, 2013. Re-elected 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025.

Ministerial appointments

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1.6.2022 to 13.5.2025.

Committee service

  • House of Representatives Select: Social Media and Online Safety served from 2.12.2021 to 8.12.2021; Social Media and Online Safety served as Deputy Chair from 9.12.2021 to 15.3.2022
  • House of Representatives Standing: Publications served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Education and Employment served from 4.12.2013 to 14.7.2014; Tax and Revenue served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Health served from 14.7.2014 to 15.7.2014; Health served as Deputy Chair from 16.7.2014 to 19.10.2015; Communications and the Arts served as Deputy Chair from 19.10.2015 to 9.5.2016; Communications and the Arts served from 15.9.2016 to 11.4.2019; Social Policy and Legal Affairs served from 10.6.2020 to 31.3.2021; Education served from 24.7.2025 to 7.8.2025; Education served as Chair from 7.8.2025 to present
  • Joint Standing: Treaties served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; National Broadband Network served from 23.7.2019 to 11.4.2022; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 28.7.2025 to present; Treaties served from 28.7.2025 to present
  • Joint Statutory: Public Accounts and Audit served from 4.12.2013 to 12.2.2015; Corporations and Financial Services served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016; Public Accounts and Audit served from 22.7.2019 to 11.4.2022

Parliamentary party positions

  • Australian Labor Party. Served: 07.09.2013 to present
  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Personal

  • Born: 8.6.1982, Toowoomba, Australia
  • Gender: Male
  • Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

  • MPPM (Monash University).
  • MSc(Pol&Comm)(Hons) (London School of Economics and Political Science).
  • LLB(Hons) (Bond University).
  • Solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques from 2003 to 2005.
  • Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator the Hon. S Conroy from 2005 to 2007.
  • Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator the Hon. S Conroy from 2008 to 2009.
  • Senior Adviser to the Hon. J Brumby, 2009.
  • Manager at Telstra from 2009 to 2013.

Information sourced from Parliament of Australia website