Assistant Minister for Immigration, Foreign Affairs and Trade · Australian Labor Party · Member for Kingsford Smith
Matt Thistlethwaite
Chamber House Days in office 4,725 Jurisdiction commonwealth Party ALP Verified 2 May 2026
92
Documented actions
43 AYE / 49 NO
Voting record
1 of 2
Promises kept
4,725
Days in office
Voting record
AYE vs NO
43 AYE · 49 NO
Policy stance distribution (177 policy areas)
Strong opponent 57Mostly opposes 12Mixed record 27Mostly supports 13Strong supporter 68
01
They Vote For You ↗
Policy positions
177 policy areas mapped from disclosed division votes. Bars left of centre mark opposition; bars right of it, support. Showing the 5 most decisive positions first — the clearest strong-opponent and strong-supporter rows, not an arbitrary cut.
OpposesSupports
tobacco plain packaging
STRONG SUPPORTER
a carbon price
STRONG SUPPORTER
temporary protection visas
STRONG OPPONENT
voluntary student union fees
STRONG OPPONENT
a minerals resource rent tax
STRONG SUPPORTER
Show all 177 policy areas — grouped by stance
STRONG OPPONENT — 57
temporary protection visas
voluntary student union fees
privatising government-owned assets
increasing the price of subsidised medicine
increasing protection of Aboriginal heritage sites
an emissions reduction fund
increasing funding for road infrastructure
decreasing ABC and SBS funding
deregulating undergraduate university fees
increasing accessibility of government data and documents
protecting whales within Australian waters
increasing indexation of HECS-HELP debts
charging postgraduate research students fees
greater public scrutiny of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations
requiring Parliamentary approval of military deployments
withdrawing troops from Afghanistan
using natural resource wealth for the benefit of all Australians
putting welfare payments onto cashless debit cards (or indue cards) on a temporary basis as a trial
a publicly accessible foreign ownership register for agricultural land
putting a time limit on immigration detention
a same-sex marriage plebiscite
increasing the initial tax rate for working holiday makers to 19%
increasing scrutiny of unions
stopping people who arrive by boat from ever coming to Australia
banning all investment in cluster munitions
reducing the corporate tax rate
the Coalition's new schools funding policy ("Gonski 2.0")
maintaining or increasing defence spending
drug testing welfare recipients
a citizenship test
privatising certain government services
increasing the Medicare Levy to pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
turning back asylum boats when possible
civil celebrants having the right to refuse to marry same-sex couples
increasing the Newstart Allowance rate
greater control over items brought into immigration detention centres
increasing eligibility requirements for Australian citizenship
a combined Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
banning new thermal coal mines
increasing state and territory environmental approval powers
net zero emissions by 2035
the federal government calling for a ceasefire in Gaza (2023-26)
an Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC)
protecting the Great Barrier Reef
ending immigration detention on Manus Island
decreasing availability of welfare payments
protecting citizens' privacy
increasing the foreign aid budget to 0.7% of Gross National Income
getting rid of Sunday and public holiday penalty rates
political intervention in research funding grants
putting welfare payments onto cashless debit cards (or indue cards) on an ongoing basis
more scrutiny of intelligence services & police
considering motions on Gaza (2023-26) (procedural)
live animal export
increasing access under Freedom of Information law
protecting whistleblowers
no new fossil fuels projects
MOSTLY OPPOSES — 12
speeding things along in Parliament (procedural)
increasing the cost of humanities degrees
increasing or removing the Government debt limit
Senate electoral reform
protecting threatened forest and bushland habitats
increasing marine conservation
ending immigration detention on Nauru
a character test for Australian visas
increasing support for rural and regional Australia
increasing scrutiny of asylum seeker management
increasing protection of Australia's fresh water
increasing fishing restrictions
MIXED RECORD — 27
prioritising religious freedom
protecting Australian sovereignty in trade agreements
limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees
transgender rights and protections
ending government investment in fossil fuels
recognising local government in the Constitution
increasing restrictions on gambling
increasing freedom of political communication
removing children from immigration detention
restricting donations to political parties
increasing investment in the coal industry
expanding public funded dental care
nuclear energy
Australia's timber industry
increasing access to the JobKeeper Payment
assisting the Arts sector through the coronavirus pandemic
mandatory minimum sentences for certain offences
banning mobiles and other devices in immigration detention
reducing waste in Australia
increasing workplace protections for women
increasing parliamentary scrutiny of laws
procedural fairness
making university education fee-free
banning the sale of non-therapeutic vapes
increasing the financial return on fossil fuels
paid placements for all students
wiping all student debt (university and vocational)
MOSTLY SUPPORTS — 13
increasing funding for university education
unconventional gas mining
uranium export
capping international student numbers at universities
reproductive bodily autonomy
climate change mitigation strategies (e.g., carbon capture and storage)
suspending the rules to allow a vote to happen (procedural)
making more water from Murray-Darling Basin available to use
the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
same-sex marriage equality
implementing refugee and protection conventions
increasing legal protections for LGBTI people
restricting foreign ownership
STRONG SUPPORTER — 68
tobacco plain packaging
a carbon price
a minerals resource rent tax
decreasing the private health insurance rebate
increasing the age pension
re-approving/ re-registering agvet chemicals
the Intervention in the Northern Territory
increasing surveillance powers
an NBN (using fibre to the premises)
offshore processing for people seeking asylum in Australia
funding the national school chaplaincy program
increasing the diversity of media ownership
letting environmental groups challenge the legality of certain government decisions
creating a federal Anti-Corruption Commission
increasing funding for legal aid
federal action on public housing
doctor-initiated medical transfers for asylum seekers
requiring every native title claimant to sign land use agreements
a Royal Commission into Violence and Abuse against People with Disability
increasing penalties for breach of data
the territories being able to legalise euthanasia
increasing political transparency
increasing government support for the dairy industry
community right to say no to nuclear waste disposal sites
Temporary Exclusion Orders
making the cashless debit card program voluntary and not mandatory
increasing workplace protections
increasing support for the Australian film and TV industry
building dedicated quarantine facilities (COVID-19)
treating the COVID vaccine rollout as a matter of urgency
considering legislation to create a federal anti-corruption commission (procedural)
increasing support for the Australian shipping industry
capping gas prices
compulsory income management for welfare recipients
having a referendum on whether to create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament
self-governance of the territories
vehicle efficiency standards
introducing digital ID
criminalising wage theft
Improving pay and conditions for gig workers
reducing tax on lowest income bracket
increasing access to subsidised childcare
criminalising hate speech
criminalising hate symbols
mandatory climate financial disclosures
increasing trade unions' powers in the workplace
the Paris Climate Agreement
banning pay secrecy clauses
Build to Rent (BTR)
carbon farming
encouraging Australian-based industry
parliament continuing to meet during the COVID-19 pandemic
making TAFE education fee-free
increasing transparency of big business by making information public
market-led approaches to protecting biodiversity
increasing consumer protections
stopping tax avoidance or aggressive tax minimisation
strengthening gun control laws
increasing investment in renewable energy
increasing housing affordability
federal government action on animal & plant extinctions
net zero emissions by 2050
decreasing the gender pay gap
regional processing of asylum seekers
letting all MPs or Senators speak in Parliament (procedural)
a transition plan for coal workers
ending illegal logging
reducing tax concessions for high socio-economic status
02
Source ↗
Election promises
1 of 2
tracked election promises kept
Enhance Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset
Taper Concessional Tax Treatment for High Balances
03
They Vote For You ↗
Votes & actions
92 documented actions · 43 AYE · 49 NO · showing the 5 most recent
| Vote | Action | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO | Committees — Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Committee; Appointment | 2 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Business — Rearrangement | 2 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Business — Rearrangement | 2 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Motions — Minister for Defence Industry; Attempted Censure | 2 July 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026; Second Reading | 2 July 2026 | Source |
Show actions 6–45 of 92
| AYE | Bills — Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Consideration of Senate Message | 1 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025; Consideration of Senate Message | 1 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the Ndis for Future Generations) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 1 July 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026, Income Tax Rates Amendment (Tax Reform No. 1) Bill 2026; Reference to Committee | 28 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the Ndis for Future Generations) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Criticism of Government | 28 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the Ndis for Future Generations) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - CALD communities | 28 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the Ndis for Future Generations) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Automated decision-making | 28 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the Ndis for Future Generations) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Extend submission deadline | 28 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026; Second Reading | 25 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 25 May 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Questions without Notice - Veterans - Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson | 25 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Small business | 14 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Telecommunications Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards) Bill 2025; Second Reading | 14 May 2026 | Source |
| NO | Business — Consideration of Legislation | 1 Apr 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Motions — New South Wales: Roads | 1 Apr 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Commonwealth Parole Board Bill 2025 - Consideration of Senate Message - Agree with amendments and pass bill | 1 Apr 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026; Second Reading | 5 Mar 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 5 Mar 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Superannuation (Building a Stronger and Fairer Super System) Imposition Bill 2026; Second Reading | 5 Mar 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Reporting System Reform) Bill 2026; Report from Federation Chamber | 5 Mar 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Business — Consideration of Legislation | 3 Mar 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025; Report from Federation Chamber | 2 Mar 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Bills — Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025; Report from Federation Chamber | 2 Mar 2026 | Source |
| NO | Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - National Tertiary Education Objective | 10 Feb 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 10 Feb 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Motions - Small Business - Adjourn debate | 9 Feb 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 9 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Opposition concerns | 9 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Application of amendments | 5 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Questions without Notice — Australian Parliament | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Customs Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025; Consideration in Detail | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 2) Bill 2025 - Report from Federation Chamber - Notification of the Chief of the Defence Force | 4 Feb 2026 | Source |
| NO | Business — Standing and Sessional Orders | 3 Feb 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 20 Jan 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 20 Jan 2026 | Source |
| AYE | Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 - Third Reading - Pass the bill | 20 Jan 2026 | Source |
| NO | Bills — Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 20 Jan 2026 | Source |
Show actions 46–85 of 92
| AYE | Bills — Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill 2026; Consideration in Detail | 20 Jan 2026 | Source |
| NO | Treasury Laws Amendment (Payday Superannuation) Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Small businesses | 30 Oct 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Motions - Telecommunications - Adjourn the debate | 29 Oct 2025 | Source |
| NO | Criminal Code Amendment (State Sponsors of Terrorism) Bill 2025 - Report from Federation Chamber - Functions of Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security | 29 Oct 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business — Rearrangement | 29 Oct 2025 | Source |
| NO | Business — Rearrangement | 28 Oct 2025 | Source |
| NO | Business — Rearrangement | 28 Oct 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 27 Oct 2025 | Source |
| NO | Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025 and another - Consideration in Detail - Review of the Act | 27 Oct 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 3 Sept 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Put the question | 3 Sept 2025 | Source |
| NO | Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Reviewable decisions and notification of review rights | 3 Sept 2025 | Source |
| NO | Treasury Laws Amendment (Payments System Modernisation) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Parliamentary oversight | 2 Sept 2025 | Source |
| NO | National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Health Technology Assessment review and tariffs | 28 Aug 2025 | Source |
| NO | Regulations and Determinations — Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health and Aged Care Measures No. 4) Regulations 2024; Disallowance | 26 Aug 2025 | Source |
| NO | Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence) Bill 2025 and another - Second Reading - Antisemitism | 25 Aug 2025 | Source |
| NO | Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Penalty and overtime rates | 31 July 2025 | Source |
| NO | Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Increase flexibility | 31 July 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business — Consideration of Legislation | 31 July 2025 | Source |
| NO | Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Bill 2025 - Reference to Committee - Standing Committee on Education and Employment | 30 July 2025 | Source |
| NO | Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 - Report from Federation Chamber - Increase defence expenditure | 30 July 2025 | Source |
| NO | Business — Days and Hours of Meeting | 23 July 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business - Rearrangement - Consideration of the bill | 26 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Treasury Laws Amendment (More Cost of Living Relief) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Put the question | 26 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Treasury Laws Amendment (More Cost of Living Relief) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 26 Mar 2025 | Source |
| NO | Committees - Nuclear Energy Select Committee; Report - Let Fairfax MP make a statement | 26 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business - Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders - Standing Order 133(b) | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business - Consideration of Legislation - Put the question | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Business - Consideration of Legislation - Schedule for sitting day | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| NO | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Salmon industry | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025 - Third Reading - Pass the bill | 25 Mar 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Put the question | 13 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with bill's main idea | 13 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Early Childhood Education and Care (Three Day Guarantee) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Standing order 43(a) | 13 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Business - Rearrangement - Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024 | 12 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Enshrine target in law | 12 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 - Consideration in Detail - Agree with the bill as amended | 12 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Business - Rearrangement - Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 | 11 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Social Security Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes) Bill 2025 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 11 Feb 2025 | Source |
Show actions 86–92 of 92
| NO | Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024 - Report from Federation Chamber - Criticism of Government | 10 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Motions - Attorney-General - Stop Mr Dreyfus from speaking | 10 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024 - Consideration in Detail - Instant asset write-off | 10 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) Bill 2024 - Consideration in Detail - Denying deductions for interest charges | 10 Feb 2025 | Source |
| NO | Scams Prevention Framework Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Criticism of Government | 6 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea | 6 Feb 2025 | Source |
| AYE | Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024 - Second Reading - Agree with the main idea | 6 Feb 2025 | Source |
Matt Thistlethwaite is a member of Australian Labor Party. Individual donation disclosures aren't required for party members under AEC rules — donations are recorded against the party as a whole.
View ALP donations →
Media company donations
Nine Entertainment Co
7 outlets
$5K
Network Ten (Paramount)
Foreign owned · USA · 2 outlets
$4K
Seven West Media
3 outlets
$1K
News Corp Australia
Foreign owned · USA · 8 outlets
$536
Federal contracts to party donors
Suppliers that both donated to Australian Labor Party and won federal contracts — not evidence of a causal link, a cross-reference only.
SERENDIPITY (WA) PTY LTD
1 contract
$12,328,687,413
Macquarie Technology Operations Pty
1 contract
$8,880,804,678
KPMG
172 contracts
$5,233,160,181
VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD - GEMS PROJECT
1 contract
$4,178,803,251
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU
83 contracts
$4,153,886,721
Show suppliers 6–20 of 20
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
2 contracts
$3,561,600,000
Ernst & Young
39 contracts
$2,696,935,507
Roche Products Pty Ltd
1 contract
$2,224,032,418
RAYTHEON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
15 contracts
$1,991,336,998
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
2 contracts
$1,755,518,334
ERNST & YOUNG CONSULTING
10 contracts
$1,716,728,148
ERNST & YOUNG
28 contracts
$1,588,253,245
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
44 contracts
$1,330,655,047
Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd
1 contract
$982,574,630
HOLDING REDLICH
18 contracts
$942,285,934
Macquarie Technology Operations Pty Ltd
6 contracts
$910,622,438
SANOFI-AVENTIS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
1 contract
$805,200,000
MACQUARIE TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS PTY LIMITED
5 contracts
$608,239,557
JACOBS GROUP (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
15 contracts
$543,432,321
Comcover
10 contracts
$493,970,450
05
Foreign ties & lobbying
Lobbying contact (17 firms)
Hawker Britton
C|T Group (formerly Crosby Textor)
GRA Partners
CMAX Communications
TG Public Affairs
Show firms 6–17 of 17
Barton Deakin
Kreab
Newgate Communications
Gravity Consulting Services
Capital Hill Advisory
Alex Ulm Consulting
Mercury Strategic Advisory
Government Relations Australia
SW Strategy
Parker & Partners
DHC Advisory
In-House Public Affairs
06
ABS electorate data ↗
Place & sources
$1100K
Median house price
$650
Median weekly rent
42.1%
Rental stress
28.5%
Investor owned
Evidence and sources
- Actions and votes: They Vote For You / OpenAustralia
- Donations: AEC Transparency Register
- Foreign ties: Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, public disclosures
- Federal contracts: AusTender
- Housing figures: ABS electorate-level housing data
No mockup section yet — kept in original form
News
No news mentions matched to Matt Thistlethwaite yet. Coverage is limited to a small set of RSS sources and headline-only name matching — absence here doesn't mean no coverage exists.