Barry O'Farrell

Barry Robert O'Farrell (born 24 May 1959) is an Australian politician, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, member for the state seat of Ku-ring-gai in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Opposition Leader of New South Wales. O'Farrell was born in Melbourne. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Australian history, politics and Indigenous studies at the Australian National University in 1980.

Political history

O'Farrell became a member of the Liberal Party that same year. He has served variedly in the Party, and was an advisor to John Howard and Bruce Baird in the late 1980s and early 1990s respectively. O'Farrell was State Director of the NSW Liberal Party from 1992–1995.

O'Farrell was elected to the seat of Northcott (1995-99) and then Ku-ring-gai (since 1999) in the NSW Legislative Assembly, and served as Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Leader of the House in the State Opposition. O'Farrell was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in 1999 and served until 2002 when John Brogden was elected Leader. O'Farrell successfully contested the deputy's position following the 2003 State election.

Following the resignation of John Brogden as NSW Liberal Party leader on 29 August 2005, O'Farrell was considered the foremost contender for leadership. However, following Brogden's purported suicide attempt the day following, O'Farrell withdrew his candidacy stating he did not believe he could ensure party unity, leaving the road clear for Peter Debnam and remaining Deputy Leader of the NSW Liberals.

After the Liberals were defeated in the March 2007 state election, O'Farrell announced his intention to challenge Debnam for party leadership. Debnam decided not to contest the leadership challenge which left the way clear for Mr O'Farrell to take the leadership position. On 4 April 2007 O'Farrell was elected unopposed as New South Wales Liberal Leader.

In May 2008, following the resignation of three senior organisational figures, it was revealed that O'Farrell had brokered a package of reforms designed to overcome factional infighting which had plagued the NSW Division for years. The reforms were endorsed at a State Council meeting on 31 May. Despite the risks involved, O'Farrell's role in the reform process was seen to have enhanced his leadership In June 2008, Newspoll reported that O'Farrell led Morris Iemma in the preferred premier stakes - the first time any NSW Opposition Leader had led an incumbent Premier since may 1992.

O'Farrell believes that elected Members of Parliament (MPs) should serve the full term in office, and not resign mid-term. Angered by the enormous cost of by-elections caused by departing Labor MPs, O'Farrell declared in September 2008 that MPs themselves should pay for part of the cost of the by-election if they quit mid-term. Said O'Farrell: "If members of Parliament knew that in quitting early they could suffer the loss of half of their first year's superannuation they may have cause to pause and think and stay."

Family

O'Farrell resides within his electorate at Roseville with his wife Rosemary O'Farrell and their two young children. His wife Rosemary is the daughter of former National Party member Bruce Cowan.

In April 2008 O'Farrell and his son walked the Kokoda Track with Liberal colleague, Charlie Lynn, Miss World Australia, Caroline Pemberton, and other trekkers.

References

External links

• Barry O'Farrell personal website
• Barry O'Farrell Facebook Page
• "Transcript of interview with Barry O'Farrell". Stateline. ABC Television, Retrieved on 2007-04-18.