Garry Barr Nehl
Deputy Speaker of the Australian Government's House of Representatives, addressing a sitting of Parliament in his kilt!   A first in Australian history. 

Member for Cowper (NSW)
National Party of Australia

Elected to the House of Representatives for Cowper, New South Wales, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1998.

Deputy Chair of Committees from 8.5.90 to 21.2.94.
Member, Speaker's Panel from 21.2.94 to 30.4.96.
Deputy Speaker from 30.4.96.

House of Representatives Standing: Publications from 8.10.87 to 19.2.90; Industry, Science and Technology from 29.5.89 to 19.2.90; Selection from 15.5.90 (Chair from 7.5.96); Long Term Strategies from 1.6.90 to 8.2.93; House from 21.8.90; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs from 12.5.93 to 29.1.96; Procedure from 12.5.93 to 29.1.96.

Joint Statutory: Public Accounts from 28.2.85 to 8.2.93; Native Title from 30.8.94 to 29.3.95; Native Title and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Fund from 29.3.95 to 29.1.96; Australian Security Intelligence Organization from 8.2.99 to 8.3.99.

Joint Standing: Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 20.10.87 to 19.2.90; National Capital and External Territories from 30.5.96 to 31.8.98.

Joint Select: Tenure of Appointees to Commonwealth Tribunals from 12.4.89 to 30.11.89.

Member, South Pacific Conference, November 1986.

Member, Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade South Pacific Inquiry visit to Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa, June 1988.

Member, Parliamentary Exchange Visit to New Zealand, April 1989.

Member, Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Defence Sub-Committee) visit to Noumea, New Caledonia, April 1989.

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to USA and Canada, March-April 1995.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the National Party from 12.5.89 to 11.4.90.

Deputy National Party Whip from 11.4.90 to 2.6.94.

National Party Whip from 2.6.94.

Member, NPA Research Committee (NSW) 1980-81.

Member, NPA State Campaign Committee (NSW) 1980-84.

Member, NPA Central Council and Central Executive (NSW) 1980-85.

Chair, Coffs Harbour Electorate Council 1980-85.

Campaign Director, Coffs Harbour State Electorate 1981 and 1984.

Chair, Transport and Communications Policy Committee 1983-85.

Convener, Australian Parliamentary Antarctic Alliance from 1987.

Member, Parliamentary Art Collection Advisory Committee from 1993.

Chair, Parliamentary Education Office Advisory Committee from 1996.

Born 19.2.34 at Newcastle, NSW.

Married.

Station-hand, overseer, manager, sheep and cattle property 1956-59.

Packaging consultant 1959-61.

Executive Officer and Secretary, New England New State Movement 1961-64.

Administration, Dept of University Extension, University of New England 1965-68.

Newspaper proprietor and editor, Armidale, NSW 1968.

Management and marketing positions 1969-76.

Publisher and public relations consultant 1976-84.

The Banana Coast, French's Forest, NSW: Murray Child and Co., 1978.

Timbertown, French's Forest, NSW: Murray Child and Co., 1978.

Coffs Harbour - The Natural Growth Centre, Garry Nehl and Associates, 1979.

Alderman, Armidale City Council 1962-64.

CMF 1952-54.

Description: Rural.

Location: New South Wales north coast; it includes the centres of Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Kempsey, Macksville, Nambucca Heads, South West Rocks, Urunga and Woolgoolga.

Area: 10 788 sq km (approx.).

Electors enrolled: 79 213 (at 3.10.98).

Industries: Forestry, bananas, sugar, vegetables, dairy cattle and tourism.

State electorates: Cowper includes the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Coffs Harbour, and parts of Clarence and Oxley.