Marino was born in Harvey, Western Australia, and grew up in Brunswick Junction. Her father was born in the United States, while her paternal grandparents were born in Messina, Sicily; her maternal grandfather was born in Kalmar, Sweden.[1] In 1972, she married Carmelo "Charlie" Marino, an Italian immigrant. During the Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, it was suggested that she might be a dual citizen of Italy through her marriage. She subsequently released a statement from the Italian consulate in Perth stating that she "is not nor has ever been an Italian citizen".[2]
Before entering politics, Marino ran a dairy farm with her husband. From 2001 to 2007, she served on the board of Dairy Western Australia, an industry lobby group.[3] She also served as president of the Harvey Bulls Football Club for ten years. In 2017, the South West Football League announced that it would name the best and fairest award in its women's competition the Nola Marino Medal.[4]
Marino reportedly supported Malcolm Turnbull in the 2015 leadership spill against Tony Abbott. Turnbull subsequently appointed her Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives, in place of Scott Buchholz. She was the first woman to hold the office.[5][6] In the lead-up to the 2016 federal election, Marino was challenged for Liberal preselection by Ben Small, the president of the party's Bunbury branch. She won the vote 51–16, with Turnbull sending a letter of support.[7]
