Luke Aquinas Foley an Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

n politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council

New South Wales Legislative Council

The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...

 since 10 June 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...

. 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.

Early years and background

Foley is the twin child of John and Helen Griffen-Foley. He graduated from the University of New South Wales

University of New South Wales

The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

 with a Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

. Commencing working life as a telemarketer for the Guide Dog Association of NSW, Foley became NSW President of the National Union of Students

National Union of Students (Australia)

The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...

, and then worked in the office of Labor Senator

Australian Senate

The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...

 Bruce Childs

Bruce Childs

Bruce Kenneth Childs is a former Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a tradesman in photo engraving and a secretary of the Printers' Union before becoming Assistant General Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party 1971-1980. In 1980, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Labor...

. Between 1996 and 2000 he was a union organiser with the NSW branch of the Australian Services Union

Australian Services Union

The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, which operates under the trading name of the Australian Services Union or ASU, is a trade union that represents members in a variety of industries.-Union history:...

 and became Secretary of that branch between 2000 and 2003. A member of Labor's left faction, prior to his appointment to the Legislative Council, Foley was the Assistant General Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party.

Political career

Foley was appointed to the Legislative Council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ian Macdonald

Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)

Ian Michael Macdonald BA MLC , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1988 to 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party...

.