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James McGrath portrait

Senate

James McGrath

Senator for Queensland

Liberal Party of Australia · LIB

Federal parliamentary service12 years 3 month(s) and 28 days.Duration reported by the Parliamentary Handbook · 28 Oct 2026
Current ministry / shadow entries3Includes office-holder entries such as Cabinet membership; not a count of distinct policy areas.

Parliamentary service

First entered federal Parliament: 1 July 2014.

Service periods below follow the Handbook’s election and service boundaries. The source-reported duration above is shown separately from our interval calculation.

  1. 1 July 2022 – CurrentSenate

    Re-elected 2022

  2. 2 July 2016 – 30 June 2022Senate

    Re-elected 2016

  3. 1 July 2014 – 1 July 2016Senate

    Elected to the Senate for Queensland 2013.

Current responsibilities

Ministry and shadow ministry

  • Shadow Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities28 May 2025 – CurrentTaylor Shadow Ministry
  • Shadow Minister for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games28 May 2025 – CurrentTaylor Shadow Ministry
  • Shadow Special Minister of State28 May 2025 – CurrentTaylor Shadow Ministry

Parliamentary and party offices

No additional current parliamentary or party office is recorded in this import.

These are the Handbook’s dated appointments. Party spokespeople and committee memberships outside these records need their own source checks.

Background before Parliament

Qualifications recorded by Parliament

  • Bachelor of Commerce, Griffith University
  • Bachelor of Laws, Griffith University
  • Master of Laws, Queensland University of Technology
  • Admission as Solicitor, Supreme Court of Queensland

Occupations recorded by Parliament

  • Campaign Director for the Country Liberal Party (NT), 2012.
  • Self-employed contractor from 2012 to 2014.
  • Campaign Director for the Liberal National Party (Qld) from 2010 to 2012.
  • Deputy Director of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2009 to 2010.
  • National Presidential Campaign Director for the Maldivian Democratic Party, 2008.
  • Various roles with the Conservative Party (UK) including Deputy Campaign Director for the Boris Johnson Mayoral Campaign, Special Adviser to Shadow Chancellor, Chief of Staff to the Party Chairman, Campaign Co-ordinator 2002-08
  • Ministerial Adviser (SA) from 2001 to 2002.
  • Investigating Officer at the Parliamentary Ombudsman (Qld) from 1999 to 2001.
  • Solicitor and Articled Clerk at Bennett Carroll and Gibbons (Qld) from 1996 to 1999.

Appointment history

View 12 dated office and portfolio entries
  • Shadow Cabinet Minister28 May 2025 – 17 Feb 2026
  • Shadow Special Minister of State28 May 2025 – Current
  • Shadow Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities28 May 2025 – Current
  • Shadow Minister for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games28 May 2025 – Current
  • Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition5 June 2022 – 28 May 2025
  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Finance5 June 2022 – 28 May 2025
  • Government Deputy Whip in the Senate2 July 2019 – 11 Apr 2022
  • Temporary Chair of Committees10 Sept 2018 – 28 Mar 2025
  • Assistant Minister for Regulatory Reform29 Mar 2017 – 20 Dec 2017
  • Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate30 Aug 2016 – 22 Aug 2018
  • Assistant Minister for Immigration18 Feb 2016 – 19 July 2016
  • Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister21 Sept 2015 – 28 Aug 2018