Ray was employed with the Papua New Guinea Development Bank, as well as private companies in the country.
Halligan was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1997 for the Liberal Party, as the member for the North Metropolitan Region.
He was elected at a by-election, after the previous member, Ross Lightfoot, was appointed to the Australian Senate to fill a casual vacancy.
From 1 January 2002 to 20 March 2005, he was the Shadow Minister for three portfolios: Housing, Works and Services and Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
Halligan was the secretary for the parliamentary wing of the Liberal Party in Western Australia.