He was born in Melbourne to Cecil Ambrose White, a clerk and draper, and Phyllis Eileen.
From 1966 to 1969 he was an audit clerk with Price Waterhouse & Company, and from 1971 to 1976 a research officer to the Victorian opposition leader.
He was appointed Minister of Water Supply, Mines and Minerals and Energy in 1982, moving to Health in 1985 and Industry, Technology and Resources in 1989.
In 1996 he resigned from the Council to run for the Legislative Assembly seat of Tullamarine, but he was defeated.
From 1996 to 1999 he was electorate officer for Senator Stephen Conroy, and from 2000 he was a director of Hawker Britton and chairman of Yarra Trams.