The Hon Laurie Donald Thomas Ferguson
Born on 7 July 1952 into a prominent Australian political family, Laurie Ferguson was raised in Guildford on the family’s poultry farm on Guildford Road. The son of Mary Ellen and the Honourable Laurie John “Jack” Ferguson, former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Laurie grew up in an environment shaped by public service, community engagement, and a strong commitment to social equity. His siblings, including former Federal Minister Martin Ferguson, likewise devoted their careers to public life, reflecting the family’s enduring contribution to Australian civic life.
Laurie studied at the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Economics and a Master of Arts, pursuing interests that would later inform his policy work and parliamentary service.
He entered public office in 1984 as the Member for Granville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, serving until 1990. That year, he successfully contested the Federal Division of Reid, where he served as a Member of the House of Representatives for two decades. Following electoral redistribution, he later represented the Federal Division of Werriwa from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. Across more than 32 years in public office, Laurie earned a reputation for consistent dedication, hard work, and deep engagement with the communities he served.
During his Federal parliamentary career, Laurie held several significant roles, including Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services from 2007 to 2010. He served on numerous parliamentary committees, contributing to areas such as industry, science, technology, employment, education, and the Parliamentary Library. In 2015, he was appointed as a Member of the National Library of Australia Council, reflecting his commitment to knowledge, culture, and public institutions.
In recognition of his long-standing service to the Parliament of Australia and the broader community, Laurie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal on 10 June 2019.
Reflecting on his career in a 2016 interview, Laurie offered simple but enduring advice to young people considering public life: “Politics requires hard yakka for a long time… You have to be involved at a local level, go to branch meetings, work hard.” These words encapsulate the values that shaped his career - persistence, commitment, and service grounded in genuine community connection.
This plaque honours Laurie Ferguson’s significant contributions to the public life of New South Wales and Australia, and his steadfast belief in the value of hard work, integrity, and public service.
Portrait of the Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP is courtesy of the Australian Parliament House Library.
