Shaoquett Moselmane MLC (born in 1965, in Konin, a village in southern Lebanon

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

), 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 2009, 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...

.

Early years and background

Moselmane arrived in Australia in 1997 together with his parents, Chaher Mouslimani and Jawaher Mohanna Mouslimani, and ten other brothers and sisters. He attended Rockdale Public School and James Cook Boys' High School

James Cook Boys Technology High School

James Cook Boys' Technology High School is a boys' school situated on Princes Highway in Kogarah, Australia.-History:James Cook was founded in 1957 after Moorefield racecourse was demolished and the ground was divided into housing development and two schools: Moorefield Girls High School and James...

 before graudating 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...

 (Politics and Government Administration) from The University of Sydney. Obtaining a Master degree in politics from Macquarie University

Macquarie University

Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...

, Moselmane went on to complete a Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Laws

The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...

 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...

. In 1999, Moselmane commenced practicing law as a solicitor.

In 1995, Moselmane was elected to Rockdale City Council

City of Rockdale

The City of Rockdale is a Local Government Area in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The city centre is located 12 kilometres south-south-west of the Sydney central business district, on the western shores of Botany Bay...

 in Sydney's south and served as mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 from 2001 to 2003, from 2005 to 2006, and again in 2009 until his appointment to the Legislative Council. Moselmane remains a councillor until his term on Council expires in 2012.

Political career

Moselmane was appointed to the Legislative Council on 3 December 2009, to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Henry Tsang

Henry Tsang

Henry Tsang OAM is an Australian architect, politician and formerly an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Tsang was a member of the Council from 27 March 1999 until his resignation effective 3 December 2009...

, and is the first Muslim member of the New South Wales Parliament.