Matt Foley (Australian politician)

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

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 1996-1998, 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