Reynolds had two ministerial appointments during her time in the Senate, serving as Minister for Local Government from September 1987 to April 1990 and as Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women from January 1988 to April 1990.
She retired from federal politics in 1999, and went on to lecture in politics and international relations at the University of Queensland.
Reynolds is married to Henry Reynolds, with whom she has a son (John) and two daughters (Anna and Rebecca).