Brenton is currently Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees.

Brenton was first elected as a member for Braddon at the 1996 election following a very successful vocation in Industrial Relations and a flourishing career as an Alderman in Local Government.

Raised in a family involved in small business, at 17 years of age Brenton began life as an engine driver. Since being elected a delegate in those early days he has spent nearly all of his working life representing people in the community.

Elected 1987 Tasmanian organiser Federated Engine Drivers and Fireman's Association of Australasia , 1994 Tasmanian Trades and Labor Council and Alderman Devonport City Council.

Re-elected to Parliament in 1998 Brenton negotiated important transport reforms for Tasmania in the areas of freight and passenger services, the first changes since 1925.

Giving our island State an opportunity to become more efficient and compete on an equal footing with the level of services to our mainland counter parts.

This Framework also enabled Brenton to introduce modern bus services, Mersey Link for the City of Devonport and Latrobe.

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Braddon was named after Sir Edward Braddon (1829-1904), Premier of Tasmania (1894-1899), and a Member of the House of Representatives (1901-1904).

Braddon is a rural electorate covering approximately 11 760 sq km in North West Tasmania. It includes King Island. The cities of Burnie and Devonport are in the Division of Braddon. Other major towns include Currie, Latrobe, Penguin, Port Sorell, Smithton, Stanley, Ulverstone, Waratah and Wynyard.

Products and industries of the area cover forestry, fishing, kelp harvesting, dairying, beef cattle production and vegetable, poppy and pyrethrum growing, which are major primary industries. Vegetable processing, cheese manufacture and sawmilling complement these activities. Lead and zinc and iron ore are mined in the Division. Manufacturing industry includes paper mills at Burnie and Wesley Vale, mining equipment at Burnie and weaving mills at Devonport. A number of telecommunications call centres are located in the Division. Burnie and Devonport are major ports, and interstate airports are located at Devonport and Wynyard.