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Portrait of Matt Thistlethwaite

Matt Thistlethwaite

Australian Labor Party · House of Representatives · Kingsford Smith (NSW) · incumbent

Matthew James Thistlethwaite was born on 6 September 1972 and grew up in Maroubra in a Catholic family, the eldest of three siblings; his father was a Qantas steward. He completed high school at Marist Brothers Pagewood, then graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Economics and later obtained diplomas in law and legal practice from the University of Technology Sydney, becoming the first in his family to attend university. [source]

Assistant Minister for Immigration; Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Second Albanese ministry, sworn in on 13 May 2025. Australian Labor Party MP for Kingsford Smith. [source]

Sourced positions

A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.

Faith & religion verified

Wikipedia states Thistlethwaite 'grew up in the suburb of Maroubra in a Catholic family.' This describes his upbringing; no source explicitly states his current personal religious belief.

Foreign policy & aid verified

In a House of Representatives debate (2 June 2026) Thistlethwaite presented the government's supportive position on AUKUS, stating that nuclear-propelled submarines 'have a longer range and endurance and greater stealth, which means that they can go undetected for longer' than conventional alternatives, and framing AUKUS and the three-phase submarine acquisition plan as essential to Australia's security through strong partnerships and alliances.

Record last updated 2026-08-13.