Colin was elected to the Victorian Parliament to represent Bundoora in November 2006 after serving the community in a range of different roles. He served as a councillor at Banyule City Council from 1997 to 2005 with two terms as Mayor of the City (1998/99 and 2001/02). He was also a member of the board of the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service and was active in a number of community organisations.

Having worked for a number of senior Government Ministers before entering Parliament himself, Colin is proud to have started his working life as an electrician, working on large building sites and in railway workshops, which have provided him with a range of experiences that are important in elected office.

Colin was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. During this time he has served as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. Colin has also previously served on the Parliament’s Education and Training Committee, Law Reform Committee and the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee.

In March 2017, Colin was elected by the Victorian Parliament as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and in June 2022 was appointed Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers and Minister for Child Protection and Family Services under the Andrews Ministry.

Living in the electorate with his wife and three children, Colin enjoys cycling and following the Melbourne Storm.