Born in 1956 at Bulli Hospital, Wollongong. Parents had migrated from Lebanon in the early 1950s. He attended high school at Marist Brothers Kogarah.

Interested in boxing, rugby league and athletics. Completed law studies and was admitted as a solicitor in 1982.

John has operated a legal practice for the last 25 years. He served on the board of a number of companies, including a public company. Elected as a Councillor to Rockdale City Council in 2004.

David Clarke was elected to the NSW Legislative Council on 22 March 2003. David was recently appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Justice. Previously David served as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney General & Shadow Minister for Justice and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations.

Catherine Cusack (Liberal) was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 2003, and appointed to the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Juvenile Justice and Shadow Minister for Women. She has since held the Youth Affairs and Fair Trading portfolios and is currently Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability.

Catherine has served on many Parliamentary Inquiries including Workplace Fatalities; Juvenile Offenders; the closure of the Casino-Murwillumbah Rail line and the Committee for Children and Young People.

Marie Ficarra has served the people of New South Wales in a wide variety of capacities over many years. She brings to the Parliament, professional and corporate experience together with many years in community service and welfare organisations.

Marie was elected to Hurstville City Council in 1980 and became one of few young women at the time in Local Government. She went on to become Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Hurstville City and served its people with distinction up until 1995. During that year she was elected to the New South Wales Parliament as the Member for Georges River and held the position until 1999. During that term she had the privilege of being appointed to serve in an area she is most passionate about as the Shadow Minister for the Environment.

Mike Gallacher is the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter and Vice-President of the Executive Council.

Mike was born in Paisley Scotland and immigrated with his parents to Australia as a young child.

Mike grew up in Sydney and attended school at Lethbridge Park and Shalvey before completing his studies at Randwick Boys High School.

First elected in 1999, Don Harwin serves as the President of the Legislative Council with responsibility for the activities and services of Parliament House.

Don has a strong interest in psephological matters and political history. He has provided the Liberal Party with strategic advice in several State and Federal redistribution processes and authored chapters in several books about politics and political parties in NSW.