Early life

Born in Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, he was educated at De La Salle College in Ashfield

Ashfield, New South Wales

Ashfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Ashfield is about 9 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield.The official name for the...

 before receiving an Electrical Trades Certificate from Petersham

Petersham, New South Wales

Petersham is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Petersham is located 6 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council...

 TAFE. He was an electrician from 1990 to 1996.

Political career

In 1996, Brooks became an electorate officer. From 1997 to 2005 he served on Banyule City Council, being Mayor from 1998 to 1999 and 2001 to 2002. In 2006, he was selected as the Labor

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...

 candidate for the safe seat of Bundoora

Electoral district of Bundoora

Bundoora is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria. It is a 28km² electorate located in northern Melbourne, encompassing the suburbs of Watsonia and Yallambie and parts of Bundoora, Greensborough, Macleod and Rosanna. It also includes the central...

 in the 2006 state election

Victorian state election, 2006

An election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. Just over 3 million Victorians registered to vote elected 88 members to the Legislative Assembly and, for the first time, 40 members to the Legislative Council under a proportional representation system...

, after the retirement of sitting member Sherryl Garbutt

Sherryl Garbutt

Sherryl Maree Garbutt is a former Australian politician.Born in Melbourne, Victoria, she attended Oak Park High School before receiving her tertiary education at the University of Melbourne and at La Trobe University . She is also a Justice of the Peace...

. He has represented the seat since.

Personal life

Brooks is married with two children. He takes an interest in fishing and gardening. In 2001, he received the Centenary Medal

Centenary Medal

The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...

.