John Ajaka

Ajaka was born in Bulli, New South Wales, to migrant parents from Lebanon.[6] He was schooled at St Joseph's Primary School and Marist College Kogarah where he served in the Army Cadets, graduating as the second-highest-ranking officer in his group, and served briefly in the Australian Army Reserve. He subsequently studied law and opened his own practice in Rockdale.[7] He was later elected as a City of Rockdale councillor, serving in that role until his election to parliament.[4]

Ajaka was elected to the Legislative Council at the 2007 state election.[5][8] He made his inaugural speech to the Legislative Council on 9 May 2007, in which he called for greater acceptance of migrants within Australian society and declared his intention to oppose racial prejudice and injustice in his role as an MP.[9] He also strongly criticised the police practice of referring to the ethnic backgrounds of criminals, contravening his own party's policy on the matter.[10]

Ajaka was appointed as the Minister for the Illawarra and the Minister for Disability Services on 2 August 2013; and became of member of the O'Farrell cabinet.[11][12] Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,[13] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,[3] in April 2014 in addition to his existing responsibilities as a minister, Ajaka was appointed as the Minister for Ageing.[5][14]

Following the 2015 state election, Ajaka was appointed as the Minister for Ageing, the Minister for Disability Services and the Minister for Multiculturalism, and the Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council in the new second Baird government.[1]