Matt Foley (politician)

For the character, see Matt Foley.

The Hon. Matthew Joseph Foley (born 24 January 1951) is a former Australian politician.

The Hon Matt Foley
Minister for Employment and Training of Queensland
In office 22 February 2001 – 12 February 2004
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Paul Braddy
Succeeded by	Tom Barton
In office 24 September 1992 – 31 July 1995
Premier	Wayne Goss
Preceded by	Ken Vaughan
Succeeded by	Wendy Edmond
Attorney-General of Queensland and Minister for Justice
In office 29 June 1998 – 22 February 2001
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Denver Beanland
Succeeded by	Rod Welford
In office 31 July 1995 – 19 February 1996
Premier	Wayne Goss
Preceded by	Dean Wells
Succeeded by	Denver Beanland
Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister for Justice
In office 22 February 1996 – 26 June 1998
Leader	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Denver Beanland
Succeeded by	Lawrence Springborg
Minister for Industrial Relations of Queensland
In office 24 September 1992 – 19 February 1996
Premier	Wayne Goss
Preceded by	Ken Vaughan
Succeeded by	Santo Santoro
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Yeerongpilly Yeronga (1989–2001)
In office 2 December 1989 – 7 February 2004
Preceded by	Norm Lee
Succeeded by	Simon Finn
Personal details
Born	Matthew Joseph Foley (1951-01-24) 24 January 1951 (age 73) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Children	2 sons, 4 stepchildren
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Occupation	Solicitor, Social worker

Early life

Before entering politics, he was a barrister and social worker, and sub-dean of the Social Work Faculty at Queensland University 1981–1983. He was chairperson of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (1983–1986), president of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (1985–1987), a member of the Criminal Law Sub-Committee of the Bar Association of Queensland and of the National Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (1988–1989) and National President of the Labor Lawyers Association (1989).^[1]

Political career

In 1989, Foley was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as the Labor member for Yeronga.^[1] From 1992 onward, Foley served as Attorney-General of Queensland and Minister for the Arts, among other roles, in the Wayne Goss Government.^[1]

In opposition from 1996 to 1998, Foley was Shadow Attorney-General.^[1]

When Labor won government under Peter Beattie in 1998, Foley was appointed Minister for the Arts, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. At the 2001 election, his seat was abolished and he successfully contested Yeerongpilly. Judge Roslyn Atkinson has credited Foley, in his role as Queensland Attorney-General, with making the Bench more inclusive and representative of wider society, and specifically appointing more women to the Bench.^[2] After the election, he became Minister for Employment, Training and Youth, keeping his responsibility for the Arts but leaving his legal portfolios.

Foley retired from politics in 2004.^[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
2. Interview with Judge Roslyn Atkinson, 'The Conversation Hour', ABC Radio National, 10 October 2015. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/10/19/4334218.htm. Accessed 28 October 2015

Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Norm Lee	Member for Yeronga 1989–2001	Abolished
New seat	Member for Yeerongpilly 2001–2004	Succeeded by Simon Finn