Tony Issa

Antoine "Tony" Khalil Issa OAM (14 August 1955 – 30 March 2025^[1]), an Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Granville for the Liberal Party from 2011 until the 2015 election when he lost the seat to Labor's Julia Finn.^[2]

Tony Issa OAM
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Granville
In office 26 March 2011 – 6 March 2015
Preceded by	David Borger
Succeeded by	Julia Finn
Personal details
Born	(1955-08-14)14 August 1955 Barsa, Lebanon
Died	March 30, 2025(2025-03-30) (aged 69) Auburn Hospital
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Sue Issa
Residence	Merrylands
Occupation	Self-employed

Early years and background

Issa migrated to Australia with his father in 1973, as one of seven children^[3] of Lebanese Maronite Catholic background. Issa has extensive community involvement including:

• President, Bkerkacha Charitable Association (1989)
• Treasurer, Granville Multicultural Centre (1984–1987)
• President, Granville Multicultural Centre (1987–1991)
• Board member, Australian Lebanese Welfare Group (2004–2008)
• School representative, Catholic Diocesan Parramatta Regional Council (c.1992)
• Member, Bicentenary Committee (1988)
• Member, Western Sydney Assistant Services Ranking Committee
• Board member, Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)
• Chairman, Sister City Organisation^[when?]
• Representative, Finance Complaint Services Board^[when?]
• Committee member, Our Lady of Lebanon Church, Sydney^[when?]

Local government career

Elected to Parramatta City Council in 1988, Issa served as an independent councillor until 1998 and then as a Liberal party councillor from 1998 to 2012.^[1]

Issa was elected as deputy mayor from 2000 to 2001 and became the first Liberal Party lord mayor in New South Wales, serving between 2008 and 2009.^[3][2][4]

State political career

In 1994, he contested unsuccessfully as an independent in the Parramatta by-election.

In 2011, Issa contested the normally safe^[4][5] Labor seat of Granville in the Sydney's western suburbs. Running against the incumbent and high-profile^[6] sitting member and Minister, David Borger.

Issa was elected with a swing of 13.1 points and won the seat with 52.7 per cent of the two-party vote.^[4][5]

Honours

Issa was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1995 for service to local government and to the Lebanese community.^[7]

Issa was awarded the Order of Local Government for more than 20 years service as a councillor on Parramatta City Council.^{[citation needed]}