Perrett was born in St George in Queensland in 1966 (seventh child in a family of ten children),[1] and received a diploma of teaching in 1985.

[5] Perrett claimed the victory, over a former multicultural affairs minister, could be put down to the fact that "people are ready for hope and aren't prepared to stick with the tired old fear factor of John Howard".

He was not included in the Albanese ministry after Labor won the 2022 election, but was appointed chair of the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works.

In the lead-up to the 2010 federal election a Christian group put out a flyer calling Perrett the "Member for Porn".

[10][11] In his teaching days Perrett played in a band called Once I Killed a Gopher with a Stick and remains a fan of music and literature.

[12] Perrett attracted international attention and ridicule after tweeting about facial injuries he suffered while watching an episode of political satire Veep.