Senator Don Farrell

Biography

As the Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Don is working with the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, to help secure our water supplies and continue building a sustainable future.

As a South Australian, Don is conscious of our country's cyclical rainfall pattern and understands the impact of drought on both our agricultural communities and our major cities. Don is committed to urban water reform and infrastructure investment, to help ensure that when drought returns, our cities, towns and rural communities never run out of water.

Building on the important work of previous Labor Governments, Don is working to help protect our environment and manage the environmental impacts of a twenty first century Australia. With the implementation of the landmark National Waste Policy and the introduction of product stewardship legislation, Don is committed to minimising the impacts of waste and increasing the recycling and reuse of a range of products.

As the Gillard Government moves to reduce carbon pollution, Don is also working to improve air quality and reduce the environmental impact of a range of hazardous substances.

Don was elected a Senator for South Australia at the 2007 Federal Election. Prior to his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Don was the Deputy Government Whip in the Senate and served as an active member of a number of Parliamentary Committees, including: the Senate Select Committee on Fuel and Energy; Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee; Agricultural and Related Industries Committee; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, and; Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.

Don is married with three daughters and lives in Waterfall Gully, South Australia. Don has a law degree from Adelaide University and served as the South Australian Secretary and National President of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employee's Association prior to his election to the Senate.