He was a parliamentary secretary in the Gillard government from 2010 to 2013, then served briefly as Minister for Science and Research and Minister for Sport prior to the ALP's defeat at the 2013 federal election.
From 2010 to 2013, he served as a parliamentary secretary in the Gillard government. He later held ministerial roles as Minister for Science and Research and Minister for Sport before the ALP lost power in the 2013 election.