Senator Reynolds was elected to the Australian Senate in 2014. Prior to the 2022 Federal Election, Senator Reynolds served as a Cabinet Minister in the portfolios of Government Services, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Defence and Defence Industry, Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery. She also served as the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, with responsibility for Customs and Emergency Management.
Since 2014, Senator Reynolds has been a Chair and member of a wide range of Joint and Senate Committees. She is currently Chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Senators’ Interests Committee, Deputy Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Public Accounts and Audit, a member of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade including Deputy Chair of the Human Rights sub-committee, member of the Joint Standing Committee National Disability Insurance Scheme, Joint Standing Committee Electoral Matters, a member of the Senate Select Committee on the Perth Mint and Commonwealth regulatory compliance and member of the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience.
Senator Reynolds served for 29 years in the Australian Army as a Reserve Officer in a wide range of regimental and staff appointments, including the Adjutant General of Army – the Chief of Army’s key governance advisor. Senator Reynolds was the first woman in the Australian Army Reserves to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross. She has a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) and is a graduate of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.
Prior to entering the Senate, she had over 20 years’ experience at the national political level working for Members of Parliament and as the Deputy Federal Director of Liberal Party of Australia. She also has corporate experience in Defence Industry.
Senator Reynolds is a passionate campaigner in Australia and internationally for anti-trafficking and anti-slavery measures. She represents the Australian Parliament at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and is a co-rapporteur on orphanage trafficking.
