[2] He served on the local consultative council for the development of the Albury-Wodonga growth centre planned by the Whitlam government in 1973.
Relations between the Liberals and Nationals have historically been strained in Victoria; at the time, the two parties' Victorian branches fought elections separately.
[2] Despite his previous experience as a minister and opposition backbencher at the state level, he was never promoted to the ministry under John Howard.
After he decided not to stand for the seat of Indi, the Liberal Party preselected Melburnian Sophie Panopoulos as their candidate for the 2001 Federal Election.
[2] He became involved in raising money to upgrade facilities at Albury's Mercy Health Service where he headed the building gift-giving program committee.