Freier was born in Brisbane where he attended Hendra State High School and was raised in the Roman Catholic Church.

[citation needed] Freier was elected a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 1995.

[5] In April 2014, he wrote an opinion piece in Fairfax Media newspapers criticising the Australian government's "Operation Sovereign Borders" policy which places children in immigration detention, arguing that "churches cannot be silent" and must care for "the alien, orphan and widow".

[11] Freier was elected as Anglican Primate of Australia on 28 June 2014, defeating Archbishop of Sydney Glenn Davies.

[12] He was installed as Primate by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne on 13 August 2014.