26 Facts About Deborah O'Neill

Deborah Mary O'Neill was born on 4 June 1961 and is an Australian politician who has served as a Senator for New South Wales with the Australian Labor Party since 2013.

Deborah O'Neill previously served as Member of Parliament for Robertson from 2010 to 2013.

Deborah O'Neill grew up in Western Sydney, one of six children born to Irish Catholic immigrants Mary and Jim O'Neill.

Deborah O'Neill's mother was born in Thomastown and her father in Cork, though they met in Manchester, England.

Deborah O'Neill attended Catholic primary schools in Marayong and Girraween and high school at St Patrick's College, Campbelltown.

Deborah O'Neill began an arts degree, but withdrew when her younger sister, Helen, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Deborah O'Neill completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney and University of New England, a Diploma of Teaching and Master of Arts at Australian Catholic University, and a graduate diploma at Deakin University.

When interviewed in 2023, Deborah O'Neill indicated that family and community life gave her a strong sense of social justice, which propelled her first into a teaching a career, then politics.

Deborah O'Neill taught at Mercy Catholic College Chatswood, where she would meet her future husband, then at St Edward's College, East Gosford, and Corpus Christi College.

Deborah O'Neill would go on to serve, primarily, in federal politics.

Deborah O'Neill is connected to the conservative right flank of the Labor party, a member the "shoppies" faction, backed by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, along with senior Labor figures including Don Farrell and Jacinta Collins.

Deborah O'Neill challenged Hartcher again in the 2007 NSW election, this time in the newly created seat of Terrigal, but was defeated.

Deborah O'Neill went on to win the seat for Labor at the 2010 Australian federal election, defeating the Liberal candidate Darren Jameson, and increasing Labor's margin by 1 point.

Deborah O'Neill served with Labor under Prime Minister Julia Gillard, joining Committees for Health and Ageing; for Education and Employment; and Chairing the Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, at the behest of then assistant treasurer, Bill Shorten At the 2013 election, O'Neill suffered a 4-point swing against her, being defeated by the Liberals' Lucy Wicks.

Deborah O'Neill re-entered the Parliament of Australia a few weeks after the 2013 election, only as a Senator for NSW.

Deborah O'Neill joined the Senate on the opposition benches of the 44th Parliament of Australia serving on the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

Deborah O'Neill's anticipated six-year term did not eventuate due to the double dissolution of parliament in 2016.

Regardless, Deborah O'Neill was elected to the Senate in her own right in the 2016 Australian federal election.

Deborah O'Neill continued to serve from opposition benches, but now under the leadership of Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

Likewise, Deborah O'Neill pursued the Department of Social Services' Robodebt scheme, for information about suicides amongst people who had been handed unlawful debts, and clashing with the department's secretary Kathryn Campbell.

Deborah O'Neill campaigned in regional and metropolitan NSW and was returned to the Senate for a second time.

Deborah O'Neill has asserted Labor's commitment to introducing new laws, in 47th Parliament of Australia, allowing faith-based schools to select staff of that faith.

Deborah O'Neill stood against legislation enabling Assisted suicide in Australia's territories.

Deborah O'Neill is reported to carry two items in her handbag: a set of pink rosary beads and a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Deborah O'Neill is known to be part of the socially conservative Right faction of the Labor Party.

Deborah O'Neill has three children with her husband Paul and lives in Erina on NSW's Central Coast.