Michael Carter Tate was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 6 July 1945.  He was educated at St Virgil's College, Hobart, the University of Tasmania where he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours, and at Oxford University where he studied theology for his Master of Arts. Subsequently he was a lecturer in Law at the University of Tasmania (1972-78), Dean of its Law Faculty (1977-78) and a member of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (1972-78).  

Tate was first elected as an ALP Senator for Tasmania in 1977 (term began 1 July 1978). He was re-elected in 1983, 1987 and again in 1993. In this period he was also a member of the ALP National Executive (1984-85).
 
During his career in federal politics, Michael Tate was Special Minister of State (1987), Minister for Justice (1987-90), Minister for Justice and Consumer Affairs (1990-92), Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1992-93). He also served on several Senate Committees:- National Resources (1978-83), Senate Estimates (1978-85 and 1993), Constitutional and Legal Affairs (1978-87), Passenger Fares and Services to Tasmania (1980-81), Regulations and Ordinances (1980-85), Foreign Affairs and Defence (1983-84), Scrutiny of Bills (1983-87 and 1993), Conduct of and Allegations Concerning a Judge (1984), Human Embryo Experimentation Bill (1985-86), Appropriations and Staffing and Community Affairs (1993).  

Tate was also associated with several Australian Constitutional Conventions, as Legal Adviser to the Tasmanian Parliamentary Delegation (1973-77) and as a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Delegations to Perth (July 1978), Adelaide (April 1983) and Brisbane (July 1985). He was President of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship (1985-88), a member of other Parliamentary delegations and made several official visits overseas. He has also been a long-standing member of Amnesty International. 

Following his resignation from federal Parliament, Michael Tate was appointed Ambassador to The Netherlands and the Holy See (1993-96). He was made an Officer within the Order of Australia (AO) in January 1996, and was ordained a Catholic priest in Tasmania in 200O.

Sources

1. Parliamentary Handbook 1993 (26th ed)
2. Who's Who in Australia 2003
3. Examiner Newspaper 18 Feb 1987

Agency associated with person unregistered

22 Apr 1983-25 Feb 1987: Senate Standing Committee on the Scrutiny of
                         Bills - Member/Chairman from 4  May 1983
30 Mar 1984-24 Aug 1984: Senate Select Committee on the Conduct of a
                         Judge - Member/Chairman from 2 Apr 1984
10 Sep 1984-31 Oct 1984: Senate Select Committee on Allegations
                         Concerning a Judge - Member/Chairman from
                         13 Sep 1984