Barry O'Farrell MP
Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office  4 April 2007
Preceded by	Peter Debnam
Constituency	Ku-Ring-Gai
Born	24 May 1959 Melbourne
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Rosemary O'Farrell
Children	Tom and Will
Website	http://www.barryofarrell.com

Barry 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. The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... Peter Debnam (born 21 April 1954), Australian politician, is the leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Redfern/Waterloo and Citizenship, and member for the New South Wales parliamentary seat of Vaucluse, based on the Sydney suburb of the... Ku-ring-gai is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_South_Wales. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Ku-ring-gai is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. ... The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. ...

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. Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... A B.A. issused as a certificate Bachelor of Arts (B.A., BA or A.B.), from the Latin Artium Baccalaureus is an undergraduate bachelors degree awarded for either a course or a program in the liberal arts or the sciences, or both. ... The history of Australia began when people first migrated to the Australian continent from the north, at least 40,000-45,000 years ago. ... Indigenous Australians or Aborigines[1][2] are the first human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. ... The Australian National University, or ANU, is a public university located in Canberra, the national capital of Australia. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

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. John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939), Australian politician, is the Prime Minister of Australia. ... Hon Bruce Baird Bruce George Baird (born 28 February Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Cook, New South Wales. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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.^[1] 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. Northcott was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales between 1968 and 1999. ... Ku-ring-gai is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. ... John Gilbert Brogden (born 28 March 1969) is a former Australian politician. ...

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.^[2][3] John Gilbert Brogden (born 28 March 1969) is a former Australian politician. ... August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Peter Debnam (born 21 April 1954), Australian politician, is the leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Redfern/Waterloo and Citizenship, and member for the New South Wales parliamentary seat of Vaucluse, based on the Sydney suburb of the...

After the Liberals were defeated in the March 2007 state election, O'Farrell announced his intention to challenge Debnam for party leadership.^[4] 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. Elections for the 54th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 24 March 2007. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ...

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. Roseville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian conservative political party, which claims to represent rural voters. ... David Bruce Cowan (15 January 1926 – ) is an Australian politician. ...

Trivia

O'Farrell has had the nicknames of "Fatty O'Barrell" or "Bof" due to his weight and these nicknames were sometimes called around Parliament referring to his once imposing physical presence. He has now lost 40 kilograms in an effort to reimage himself.^[5][6]

References

The Parliament of New South Wales consists of the Governor of New South Wales, the New South Wales Legislative Council and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (129th in leap years). ...

External links

• Barry O'Farrell personal website
• "Transcript of interview with Barry O'Farrell", Stateline, ABC Television, April 13 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.