Santo Santoro was a member of the Queensland State Parliament between 1989 and 2001, serving as the Liberal Party member for the electorates of Merthyr and Clayfield. He was Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party from 1992 to 1995.

He was the Queensland Government Minister for Training and Industrial Relations between 1996 and 1998, responsible for TAFE and Training, Industrial Relations, Trading Hours, Workers' Compensation and Occupation Health and Safety. In this role he introduced historic workplace relations and workers' compensation reforms, and oversaw major changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Trading Hours Act.

In October 2002, he was selected by the Parliament of Queensland to fill a casual vacancy in the Australian Senate. He was appointed as Australia's Minister for Ageing in January 2006, as part of Prime Minister John Howard's fourth Ministry. As the Minister, he oversaw significant increases in funding for aged care, and the number of aged care places available across Australia. He also ushered in reforms to protect older people from physical and sexual abuse in residential aged care facilities, and to protect the accommodation bonds paid by residents of aged care homes.

Mr Santoro resigned from the Ministry in March 2007 and retired from the Senate in April of 2007.

Correspondence should be directed to:

PO Box 448,
Clayfield, Queensland, 4011
Australia