His Social Services and Employment portfolio includes responsibility for the Ministry of Social Policy and the departments of Child, Youth and Family (CYF) and Work and Income (DWI).
Steve chairs the Cabinet Social Equity Committee and is a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee, the Cabinet Legislation Committee, the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee, the Cabinet Economic Development Committee, the Cabinet Legislation Committee and the Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on Mental Health.
Steve has been the Labour member of Parliament for Palmerston North since 1990 and he was re-elected at the 1999 general election with a 13,153 vote majority.
Prior to the 1999 general election Steve was the Opposition spokesperson on social welfare and employment and was the associate spokesperson on education with specific responsibility for tertiary education. Since entering Parliament he has variously been the Opposition spokesperson on broadcasting and communications and associate spokesperson on education and employment (1990-1993), and spokesperson on labour relations (1994-1997). He has served on the social services, education and science, commerce, justice and law reform, and broadcasting Parliamentary select committees.
Steve has a B.A. and an M.A. (Hons) in sociology. He was a senior lecturer in sociology at Massey University before entering Parliament. He has published widely in his specialist areas of interest: media and cultural studies and social change. Earlier in his academic career Steve also taught business administration.
Between 1986 and 1989 Steve served as a member of the Palmerston North City Council. He was also the chairperson of the Palmerston North Labour Electorate Committee and a member of the party's Policy Council.
Steve is married to Liz Mackay and has two adult stepchildren, Joshua and Dylan. He lists mountain biking, swimming, music, social and political theory, travel and spectator sports among his interests.
