He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 2006 to 2018, representing the Western Metropolitan Region.
[citation needed] In 2001, he received the Centenary Medal for services to the community and transport, the Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs in 2005, and was also appointed a Harmony Day Ambassador.
[1] In 2006, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council as a member for the Western Metropolitan Region, representing the Labor Party.
In late July 2017, he was denied entry to the U.S. after flying from Vancouver, Canada, to Denver, Colorado, despite possessing a visa.
His visit was as part of a group of Victorian politicians examining the effectiveness of drug laws and regulations in Europe and North America.