Skip to main content
Home

Defence Ministers

  • Home
  • Releases
    • All
    • Media releases
    • Speeches
    • Statements
    • Transcripts
  • Previous Ministers
  1. Home
  2. The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP
The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

Assistant Minister for Defence | Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP is the Labor Member for Kingsford Smith. 

He is the Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affair, and Assistant Minister for the Republic.

Media contacts

  • Ben Leeson: 0404 648 275

  • Biography
  • Media releases
  • Speeches
  • Statements
  • Transcripts

The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP is the Labor Member for Kingsford Smith. 

He is the Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affair, and Assistant Minister for the Republic.

Matt was a Senator for New South Wales in the Australian Senate from 2011 to 2013 during which time he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport. 

Matt grew up in Maroubra and completed high school at Marist Brothers Pagewood.

He is an active community volunteer and passionate advocate for advancing the interests of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Matt has extensive experience representing workers as a lawyer and trade union official in a range of industries. He is a former General Secretary of NSW Labor and was an Assistant Secretary at Unions NSW, as well as a former Vice President of the Australian Workers Union.  Matt has worked as a Senior Consultant with law firm King and Wood Mallesons.

Matt is a former director of the State Transit Authority of NSW. He has been an active surf lifesaver for over 38 years and served four years as President of Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club. He was also the President of Maroubra PCYC and received a distinguished service award from PCYC NSW.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Economics from UNSW, Diploma of Law, and a Diploma of Modern Languages in Chinese. He has a HSK 3 Chinese language qualification.

Matt lives in Matraville with his wife Rachel and their four daughters.

Bushmaster goes green

10 August 2022

View all

View full list of Minister media release by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

Speech: Address to the Chief of Army Symposium

10 August 2022

Speech: Royal Military College - Duntroon, Graduation Parade and Commissioning Ceremony

29 June 2022

Speech: Australian Defence Magazine Congress - Hyatt Hotel, Canberra

22 June 2022

View all

View full list of Minister speech by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

No results found

Doorstop Interview, Parliament House Canberra

4 August 2022

View all

View full list of Minister transcript by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP

Defending Australia and its National Interests Small shape of Australia with tagline
  • Contact us
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • Error/bug