Matt Thislethwaite is the Duty Senator for Macarthur, Paterson, Cowper, Calare, Parkes and Wentworth.
Senator Matt Thistlethwaite 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 including transport, power, manufacturing, agriculture, public sector, health and horse racing.
Matt is a former director of the State Transit Authority of NSW, and the NSW Manufacturing Council. He was a member of the Racing Industry Participants Advisory Council, and an Executive Member of the NSW Jockeys Association.
Matt has been an active surf lifesaver for 26 years and served four years as President of Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club. He was also the President of Maroubra PCYC from 1999-2004, awarded by PCYC NSW for his dedicated services in 2005.
Matt has worked as a Senior Consultant with law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
Matt was elected General Secretary of NSW Labor from 2008-2010. He was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW from 2004 to 2008, and worked for the Australian Workers Union for 10 years. He has been a member of NSW Labor since 1995 and was President of NSW Young Labor from 1997-98.
His tertiary qualifications are: Diploma of Law, graduated 2001; Bachelor of Economics (UNSW).
Matt is 39 years old and lives in Sydney, with his wife Rachel and their two daughters Amelie and Scarlett.
Currently, the Senator serves on five Parliamentary Committees:
- The Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations: Legislation Committee;
- Human Rights - Joint Parliamentary Committee;
- Corporations and Financial Services - Joint Statutory Committee;
- Public Accounts and Audit – Joint Statutory Committee; and
- Treaties - Joint Standing Committee.