New England Online > Government & Politics > First Minister > Matthew Jones
Matthew Jones
| Matthew Jones | |
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| Date of Birth: | 4 June 2011 |
| Place of Birth: | Tamworth |
| Political Party: | SDLP |
| Religion: | Unitarian |
| Profession: | Solicitor |
The Right Honourable Matthew Wishart Jones, 3rd Earl of Apsleyshire, MNE EC (4 June 2011 - ), is the current First Minister of New England, having been elected at the most recent General Election held on the 11 March 2052.
Early Life
Matthew Jones was born on 4 June 2011 in Tamworth Hospital. Matthew's parents were farmers from the Yarrowyck area south of Walcha, in the county of Apsleyshire. During the Civil War, Matthew's parents had served with distinction in the Walcha Militia of the UMNE.
Jones attended Walcha Central School and later The Armidale School where he obtained a score of 94.44 in the ACE. After leaving school, Jones enrolled in a Bachelor of Law at the New England National University. Upon graduating in 2033, Matthew became a Legal Aid solicitor in Walcha.
Alderman of Apsleyshire
Jones has been a prominent member of the Social Democratic Labour Party since its inception. In 2029, Matthew joined the party, and was soon elected convener of the university branch of the party. Within three years Matthew became the regional organiser of the party in Armidale. He returned to Walcha in 2033 and became involved in county government. Matthew was called to the Roll of Thains for Apsleyshire in a by-election held in December 2033. In November 2035, Matthew Jones became the third Earl of Apsleyshire, following the death of Tom Maher, who had served as Earl for fifteen years.
Matthew was re-elected as Earl in August 2036, and embarked a rapid reform program of the county and the town of Walcha itself. He lobbied with the rest of the county council for two road bypasses to be built, and for the construction of the Uralla to Port Macquarie Railway which linked the town up to the Armidale metropolitan network.
In Parliament
Elected to the seat of Walcha in March 2040, at thirty-eight Jones was the one of the a host of SDLP MHA's elected in the election that brought Bill Howlett to power. His skills saw him promoted as Associate Minister for Regional Development and Transport in July 2040. Matthew became Attorney-General in January 2042.
Matthew was Attorney-General from January 2042 until March 2044. Additionally, he was Associate Minister for Australasian Development and Cooperation from August 2041 until March 2044. He chaired the Cabinet Regional Affairs Committee, and was a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, the Special Commission on Immigration and the Special Commission for Constitutional Reform.
Upon the defeat of the Howlett Government in March 2044, Matthew became Opposition Attorney-General and Deputy Opposition Leader. From October 2049 until March 2052 Matthew Jones was Leader of the Opposition and Opposition spokesperson for Legal Reform and Regional Development, and a member of the Environment Committee of the parliament.
First Minister
On 11 March 2052 Matthew Jones was elected First Minister of New England. Matthew is also Associate Minister for the Counties, and has responsibility for the Executive Council and the Civil Service.
| First Ministers of New England |
| Jonathon Braddock · Jason Olsen · Jacob Meyer · Antonia Davidson · Phillip Corbett Cassandra Yee · Yvonne Gates · John Tudor · Bill Howlett · Jim Gordon · Matthew Jones |
| Leaders of the Opposition |
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| Jacob Meyer · Antonia Davidson · Phillip Corbett · Alex Fendalton · Yvonne Gates · John Tudor Harry Edwards · Bill Howlett · Jim Gordon · Matthew Jones · Kristine Dawkins |
| Earls of Apsleyshire |
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| Greg O'Connor · Christian Sinclair · Tom Maher · Matthew Jones · Tarquin Palmer · Fred Nelson · Helen Moss |
