Luke Foley
Luke Foley | |
|---|---|
 Luke Foley at an ALP function, July 2013 | |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1970 (age 53–54) |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Edel McKenna[1] |
| Children | Aoife, Niamh and Patrick |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales |
| Website | Personal Website |
Luke Aquinas Foley (born 1970), an Australian politician, has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 10 June 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party. Foley is the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, the Shadow Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, the Shadow Minister for Water, and the Shadow Minister for Energy.[3]
Personal life
Foley is married to Edel McKenna and they have three children, Aoife, Niamh and Patrick. McKenna and Foley met when she was backpacking in Australia, and married in Ireland in 2005.[4]
Early years and education
Foley and his twin sister Bridget were raised in Sydney’s St Ives by their mother Helen after Foley's father left the family when Luke was seven. Foley wanted to join the Labor Party when he was still in high school, but at his mother's request, he waited until he had finished, joining at age 17. Foley and his sister were the first in their family to go to university, helped by the Whitlam Government abolishing fees. Foley graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Arts.[5]
Career
Starting his working life while a student as a telemarketer for the Guide Dog Association of NSW 1988–90,[3] Foley became NSW President of the National Union of Students 1991,[3] and then worked in the office of Labor Senator Bruce Childs 1992–96.[3] Between 1996 and 2000 he was a union organiser with the NSW branch of the Australian Services Union and became Secretary of that branch between 2000 and 2003. A member of Labor's left faction, before his appointment to the Legislative Council, Foley was the assistant general secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party from 2003 to 2010.[3][6]
Political career
Foley was appointed to the Legislative Council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ian Macdonald.[7]
Shadow ministry
Foley is Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, and Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure.[3]
Labor leadership
Following the resignation of John Robertson as leader of the parliamentary Labor Party, Foley announced he would contest the leadership in a vote to be held on 5 January 2015. Following the withdrawal of Michael Daley and Steve Whan as leadership contenders, Foley is expected to be elected unopposed.[8]
References
- ^ "New Labor Party leader Luke Foley: How my single mum taught me 'Labor values'". The Daily Telegraph. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ Patty, Anna (6 April 2012). "MPs moved by heaven and earth". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Hon. Luke FOLEY, MLC". Members of the Legislative Council. Parliament of New South Wales. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ "New Labor Party leader Luke Foley: How my single mum taught me 'Labor values'". The Daily Telegraph. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "New Labor Party leader Luke Foley: How my single mum taught me 'Labor values'". The Daily Telegraph. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ Mitchell, Alex (6 June 2010). "The party was over long before 'Macca' jumped". The National Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Labor announces Macdonald replacement". ABC News. Australia. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
- ^ Simmonds, Kylie (30 December 2014). "Michael Foley pulls out of NSW Labor leadership race, paving way for Luke Foley to lead party". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
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