Matt Thistlethwaite
143 / 230 divisions voted in this parliament
0 votes against their party's majority position
15.3 years in federal parliament
Counted against the divisions held while they sat, not the whole parliament. Absence from a division is not abstention: pairing arrangements, leave and parliamentary duties are not distinguished in the official record. How these figures are computed.
Background
| Born | 6 Sep 1972, Sydney, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Entered parliament | 1 Jul 2011 |
| Parliaments | 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th |
| Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Economics | University of New South Wales |
| Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Technology | Sydney |
| Diploma in Law, University of Technology | Sydney |
Occupations before parliament
| Role | Organisation | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | Mallesons Stephen Jaques | 2010 – 2011 |
| Deputy Secretary | Unions NSW | 2004 – 2008 |
| Industrial Officer | Australian Workers' Union | 1995 – 2004 |
Positions held
| Role | Ministry | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | Albanese Ministry (2nd) | 13 May 2025 | current |
| Assistant Minister for Immigration | Albanese Ministry; Albanese Ministry (2nd) | 29 Jul 2024 | current |
| Assistant Minister for Defence | Albanese Ministry | 1 Jun 2022 | 29 Jul 2024 |
| Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs | Albanese Ministry | 1 Jun 2022 | 29 Jul 2024 |
| Assistant Minister for the Republic | Albanese Ministry | 1 Jun 2022 | 29 Jul 2024 |
| Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation | Albanese Shadow Ministry | 28 Jan 2021 | 23 May 2022 |
| Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services | Albanese Shadow Ministry | 2 Jun 2019 | 28 Jan 2021 |
| Shadow Assistant Minister for the Republic | Albanese Shadow Ministry | 2 Jun 2019 | 23 May 2022 |
| Shadow Minister for an Australian Head of State | Shorten Shadow Ministry; Albanese Shadow Ministry | 24 Oct 2017 | 2 Jun 2019 |
| Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury | Shorten Shadow Ministry; Albanese Shadow Ministry | 23 Jul 2016 | 2 Jun 2019 |
| Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs | Shorten Shadow Ministry | 18 Oct 2013 | 23 Jul 2016 |
| Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration | Shorten Shadow Ministry | 18 Oct 2013 | 23 Jul 2016 |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport | Rudd Ministry (2nd) | 1 Jul 2013 | 18 Sep 2013 |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs | Gillard Ministry (2nd); Rudd Ministry (2nd) | 25 Mar 2013 | 18 Sep 2013 |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs | Gillard Ministry (2nd); Rudd Ministry (2nd) | 22 Mar 2013 | 18 Sep 2013 |
Committee service
| Committee | Role | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Safety Joint Select | Deputy Chair from 26 May 2021 to 25 Mar 2022 | 17 Mar 2021 | 25 Mar 2022 |
| Road Safety Joint Select | Deputy Chair from 12 Feb 2020 to 30 Jun 2020 | 12 Feb 2020 | 9 Nov 2020 |
| Tax and Revenue House of Representatives Standing | Member | 22 Jul 2019 | 11 Apr 2022 |
| Economics House of Representatives Standing | Deputy Chair from 7 Nov 2016 to 4 Apr 2019 | 15 Sep 2016 | 11 Apr 2019 |
| Infrastructure, Transport and Cities House of Representatives Standing | Deputy Chair | 19 Oct 2015 | 9 May 2016 |
| Infrastructure and Communications House of Representatives Standing | Deputy Chair | 4 Dec 2013 | 13 Oct 2015 |
| Migration Joint Standing | Member | 4 Dec 2013 | 9 May 2016 |
| Broadcasting Legislation Joint Select | Chair from 14 Mar 2013 to 7 Apr 2013 | 14 Mar 2013 | 14 May 2013 |
| Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Joint Select | Member | 29 Nov 2012 | 14 May 2013 |
| Electricity Prices Senate Select | Chair from 27 Aug 2012 to 1 Nov 2012 | 23 Aug 2012 | 1 Nov 2012 |
| Gambling Reform Joint Select | Member | 27 Jun 2012 | 14 May 2013 |
| Human Rights Joint Statutory | Member | 13 Mar 2012 | 14 May 2013 |
| Finance and Public Administration: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Substitute member | 17 Oct 2011 | 18 Oct 2011 |
| Corporations and Financial Services Joint Statutory | Member | 1 Jul 2011 | 14 May 2013 |
| Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing | Member | 1 Jul 2011 | 14 May 2013 |
| Public Accounts and Audit Joint Statutory | Member | 1 Jul 2011 | 14 May 2013 |
| Scrutiny of New Taxes Senate Select | Member | 1 Jul 2011 | 1 Nov 2011 |
| Treaties Joint Standing | Chair from 14 Feb 2013 to 8 May 2013 | 1 Jul 2011 | 14 May 2013 |
Memberships as the Parliamentary Handbook records them; current means no end date is recorded.
Election history
| Election | Electorate | Party | First pref % | Swing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 federal election | Kingsford Smith | Labor | 50.79 | +3.45 | Elected |
| 2022 federal election | Kingsford Smith | Labor | 47.91 | +2.74 | Elected |
| 2019 federal election | Kingsford Smith | Labor | 45.17 | -2.20 | Elected |
| 2016 federal election | Kingsford Smith | Labor | 47.37 | +5.35 | Elected |
| 2013 federal election | Kingsford Smith | Labor | 42.02 | -1.81 | Elected |
| 2010 federal election | Senate, New South Wales | Labor | 36.54 | Elected 4th of 6 |
First-preference share of the formal vote at each event, matched by name within the member's state. A Senate row gives the whole group's share of the state's formal vote, since most Senate votes are cast for a group above the line.
Parliamentary expenses
| Category | Apr-Jun 2026 | Jan-Mar 2026 | Oct-Dec 2025 | Jul-Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Facilities | $70,949 | $141,955 | $103,151 | $71,634 |
| Office Administration | $139,836 | $39,453 | $96,100 | $7,455 |
| Employee Travel | $82,566 | $49,610 | $76,414 | $56,638 |
| International Travel | $51,300 | $6,505 | $34,367 | $2,215 |
| Other Car Costs | $4,248 | $6,495 | $57,616 | $6,438 |
| Scheduled Commercial Transport | $10,428 | $8,664 | $13,108 | $7,758 |
| Travel Allowance | $8,214 | $6,084 | $4,776 | $8,372 |
| Telecommunications | $1,125 | $398 | $860 | $631 |
| Unscheduled Commercial Transport | $311 | -$141 | $0 | $202 |
| Total | $368,977 | $259,023 | $386,391 | $161,344 |
Expenditure as the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority publishes it each quarter, in its own categories, rounded to the dollar. Travel distances, office locations and roles differ, so totals do not compare between members. IPEA's reports and notes.
Bills raised
| Bill | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2026 | Introduced | Before Senate |
Sponsor marks the member's own bill; Introduced marks bills they moved, typically as the responsible minister.
Voting record 143 divisions
Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Wikidata, Parliamentary Handbook, AEC (CC BY 4.0), IPEA (CC BY 3.0 AU), They Vote For You (ODbL). Errors? Request a correction.