Refshauge was born in Melbourne, the son of Major General Sir William Refshauge Air Corps Commander of the Order of the British Empire Education who later became Honorary Physician to Queen Elizabeth II and Director-General of the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, Refshauge studied medicine at the University of Sydney, and after graduating, worked in NSW hospitals and later at the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern.
One brother, Richard Refshauge, is a Judge of the ACT Supreme Court. He helped establish Aboriginal Medical Services in Wilcannia and Kempsey. In 1973 Refshauge and others founded the Doctors Reform Society of Australia, a left-leaning group advocating for health care improvements.
Angered by the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, Refshauge joined the Australian Labor Party.
In 1983 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Marrickville on the same day that Bob Carr was elected the member for Maroubra in by-elections. Refshauge was the Legislative Assembly representative on the Senate of the University of Sydney between 1987 and 1988 and was the Deputy Leader of the Opposition between 11 April 1988 and 4 April 1995.
During his term in parliament, Refshauge served as minister between 1995 and 2005 in portfolios covering Health, Aboriginal Affairs, Urban Affairs and Planning, Housing, Education and Training, State Development and as Treasurer. Refshauge announced his resignation from Parliament, as Deputy Premier and from the ministry in August 2005, a few days after Bob Carr announced his retirement as Premier and from Parliament.
Refshauge originally had planned to retire at the 2007 election but was prompted to go earlier with Carr"s retirement and a request by the replacement premier, Morris Iemma that Refshauge stand aside to allow for a new Deputy Premier so that there could be a new leadership team
"Bob and I got in on the same day. Maybe our replacement should come in on the same day too. I"ve decided that the time is right to move on to other things.
But the time is right, I have decided it"s right to leave."
Refshauge presently holds a number of senior community leadership roles, including the Chair of CareFlight (NSW), since 2007 to the present.
A director of Family Care Medical Services, since 2007. A director of the Aged Care Standards Accreditation Agency, since 2008 and Chair since 1 July 2012.
And the Chair of the Investment Committee of the Aboriginal Land Council of New South Wales, since 2008.
He served in a variety of portfolios, as well as rising to be the leader of the left faction of the party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in 1988, and Deputy Premier in 1995 following the election of the Carr government.
Prior to entering politics he was a member of the Aboriginal Affairs Policy Committee (1981–1986). Refshauge was a delegate to Labor"s State Conference (1984–2005). An executive committee member of the H.V. Evatt Memorial Foundation.
A board member of the Mandela Foundation.
And a Fellow of the Senate of the University of Sydney (1983–1986). He has previously served in a range of other community roles, including the Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
A director of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, later to become Neuroscience Research Australia. A member of the Foundation for Research and Treatment of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.
And a director of the Family Care Medical Services.
