1. Matthew James Thistlethwaite was born on 6 September 1972 and is an Australian politician.
31 Facts About Matt Thistlethwaite
1. 2.
Matt Thistlethwaite has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2013, representing the electorate of Kingsford Smith.
3.
Since 29 July 2024, Thistlethwaite has served as the Assistant Minister for Immigration in the ministry of Anthony Albanese.
4.
Matt Thistlethwaite is a senior figure in the Labor Right faction and stands as the current convenor of the NSW branch.
5.
Matt Thistlethwaite served as a member of the Australian Senate from 2011 to 2013.
6.
From 1 June 2022 to 29 July 2024, Matt Thistlethwaite served as Assistant Minister for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and the Republic.
7.
Matt Thistlethwaite grew up in the suburb of Maroubra in a Catholic family.
8.
Matt Thistlethwaite graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Economics, and holds diplomas in law and legal practice from the University of Technology Sydney.
9.
Matt Thistlethwaite was the first member of his family to attend university.
10.
In 1995, Matt Thistlethwaite began working at the Australian Workers Union as an industrial officer.
11.
Matt Thistlethwaite joined the ALP at the age of 22 and was president of NSW Young Labor from 1997 to 1998.
12.
Matt Thistlethwaite was involved in the Australian republic referendum in 1999, and was the campaign manager for the Australian Republican Movement in his electorate of Kingsford Smith.
13.
In 2004, Matt Thistlethwaite was elected Deputy Secretary of Unions NSW.
14.
Matt Thistlethwaite was a co-ordinator of the Your Rights at Work campaign in New South Wales against the Howard Government's WorkChoices laws.
15.
Matt Thistlethwaite is a former director of the State Transit Authority of NSW and the NSW Manufacturing Council.
16.
Matt Thistlethwaite sought to become the endorsed Labor candidate for the House of Representatives seat of Kingsford Smith in Sydney's eastern suburbs, for the 2004 election.
17.
Matt Thistlethwaite was elected general secretary of NSW Labor from 2008 to 2010.
18.
Matt Thistlethwaite was endorsed for a seat in the Senate, representing New South Wales, at the 2010 election.
19.
Matt Thistlethwaite was successful, and his term began on 1 July 2011.
20.
Matt Thistlethwaite served as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs in the Gillard government from March to July 2013, and as Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport in the Rudd government from July to September 2013.
21.
Matt Thistlethwaite was elected as the member for Kingsford Smith at the election held on 7 September 2013.
22.
Matt Thistlethwaite was one of three people to move from the Senate to the House of Representatives at that election.
23.
From 18 October 2013 to 23 July 2016, Matt Thistlethwaite served as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
24.
On 1 June 2022 Matt Thistlethwaite was appointed Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and Assistant Minister for the Republic in the Albanese ministry.
25.
Matt Thistlethwaite had not delivered any speeches, press releases, or ministerial statements.
26.
On 29 July 2024, as part of the Albanese Government's first ministry reshuffle, Matt Thistlethwaite was made Assistant Minister for Immigration.
27.
Matt Thistlethwaite has ambitions of becoming a cabinet minister in the future.
28.
Matt Thistlethwaite has been an active surf lifesaver for over 30 years.
29.
Matt Thistlethwaite was signed up as a member of the Maroubra surf club at the age of 13 by his father.
30.
Matt Thistlethwaite has served as the president of the Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club for four years.
31.
Matt Thistlethwaite met former Premier of New South Wales and State Member for Maroubra, Bob Carr through the Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club.