Concetta was born in Wollongong, New South Wales. After completing her primary and secondary education in Wollongong, she attended the Australian National University in Canberra. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and European Languages in 1980 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1982.
For almost 25 years prior to entering the Senate, Concetta was involved in a wide range of professional, political and community activities.
Bill Heffernan was born in the Riverina town of Junee in southwest NSW. After attending high school in Sydney, he returned to Junee to work on the family property, soon becoming a successful diversified large-scale farmer.
His political career began in local government. In 1984, he was elected to the Junee Shire Council, becoming President in 1989-90 and again in 1991-93. Bill Heffernan joined the Liberal Party in 1985 and in 1993, he became the second rural based President of the NSW Division in the history of the Party.
After growing up in Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands, Marise Payne went on to complete her education at MLC School, Burwood and her Bachelor of Arts and Laws at the University of NSW.
A member of the Liberal Party since 1982, Marise was the National Young Liberal Movement's first female President. She also served on the NSW Liberal State Executive for 10 years and at branch and electorate levels.
Having served as a political adviser to some of the most significant figures in Liberal politics of their time, Marise went on to a career as a public affairs adviser in the finance industry.
