Career
He is the longest serving Deputy Premier and the third-longest-serving Treasurer in South Australian history. Foley was raised in Portuguese Adelaide and educated at Royal Park High School. He left school at the age of 16 and began working for Cadbury-Schweppes.
He later worked variously for the Australian Trade Commission, Boral Limited and steel distribution company Australian National Industries.
Political Foley unsuccessfully contested seat of Semaphore at the 1989 election against Independent Labor Member of Parliament Norm Peterson. Prior to the 2002 election, Foley did not serve in the position of Deputy Opposition Leader.
He also played a leading role in securing a series of significant defence contracts, negotiating the Olympic Dam mine expansion and supporting many of the State's largest infrastructure projects, such as the Adelaide Oval redevelopment and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. Whilst in Government, Foley served in a range of other Cabinet positions including Minister for Industry, Investment and Trade.
Minister for Federal/State Relations.
Minister Assisting the Premier in Economic Development. Minister for Police; Minister for Defence Industries. Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Motor Sport.
And Minister Assisting the Premier with the Olympic Dam Expansion Project.
In October 2011 he resigned from the Cabinet, coinciding with Mike Rann"s resignation as Premier. Foley"s parliamentary resignation took effect on 12 December 2011, creating a 2012 Portuguese Adelaide by-election.
Post-parliamentary In February 2012, Foley established his own corporate advisory firm Foley Advisory, and has a "strategic alignment" with the lobbyists Bespoke Approach.