Peter is the CEO of Independent Higher Education Australia. Most recently he has been an economic consultant with a number of board memberships and was a Commissioner on the Commonwealth Grants Commission in Australia, which recommends on the allocation of GST amongst the States. In 2006 he co-authored the report to Government “International Comparison of Australia’s Taxes”.

He was the Chief Economist in the Prime Minister’s Office 2016-17, and immediately before that, was a Member of Parliament and as a Federal Minister of State (ie the Assistant Minister for Finance, Assistant Cabinet Secretary, Assistant Minister for Productivity and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister).

He has worked extensively internationally. He was an Executive Director of the Bahrain Economic Development Board. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was also chairman of International Chamber of Commerce (Australia).

Peter has also been the Chief of Staff of the Minister for Defence; Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business; Minister for Education, Science and Training, and the Leader of the Federal Opposition.He has a PhD and started his career in the Australian Treasury. He has authored three books.