James Paterson

Parliamentary service

First entered federal Parliament: 9 Mar 2016.

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 2025 – CurrentSenate

   Re-elected 2025

2. 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2025Senate

   Re-elected 2019

3. 2 July 2016 – 30 June 2019Senate

   Elected to the Senate for Victoria 2016.

4. 9 Mar 2016 – 9 May 2016Senate

   Chosen by the Parliament of Victoria on 9.3.2016 under section 15 of the Constitution to represent that State in the Senate, vice the Hon. M Ronaldson (resigned).

Current responsibilities

Ministry and shadow ministry

• Shadow Minister for Defence17 Feb 2026 – CurrentTaylor Shadow Ministry
• Shadow Cabinet Minister17 Feb 2026 – 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, University of Melbourne
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne

Occupations recorded by Parliament

• Employed at the Institute of Public Affairs from 2011 to 2016.
• Employed in the Employer's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Vic.) from 2010 to 2011.
• Employed in the office of Senator M Fifield from 2006 to 2010.

Appointment history