Michael was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in a by-election in September 2005 replacing former Premier Bob Carr as Member for Maroubra.
On 8 September 2008 he was appointed the Minister for Roads. Prior to this he held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer and the Minister for Finance. Michael was also Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Natural Resource Management (Climate Change).
Michael was then sworn in as Minister for Police on Monday 14 September 2009, and as Minister for Finance on Tuesday 17th November 2009.
Michael brings a wealth of experience to the oppostion portfolios of Treasury, Finance and Services and he looks forward to working hard with the Robertson Labor team.
Michael lives in Maroubra and is married with four children. Prior to his election to Parliament Michael worked as a Corporate Lawyer with NRMA Motoring & Services, and prior to that Michael was in private legal practice for 5 years. Before becoming a lawyer, he spent 13 years working as a Customs officer with the Australian Customs Service.
Michael completed his Higher School Certificate at Marcellin College in Randwick in 1983. Prior to that he attended infants and primary School at St Joseph’s & St Mary’s at Maroubra Beach and Lurline Bay.
His tertiary qualifications are: Diploma of Law (Barristers’ and Solicitors’ Admission Board), Graduated 1997; Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice; Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a legal practitioner in 1998.