Hon Matthew Swinbourn BA LLB MLC

Born in Middle Swan, Matthew spent his early years in South Australia before returning to Perth in 1983. After high school, he worked various jobs and briefly trained with the Navy before resuming his education at Canning College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, balancing his studies with work as a commercial milkman. Matthew first joined the Labor Party while at UWA.

Admitted as a lawyer in 2014, Matthew worked extensively for trade unions as a senior lawyer and industrial officer. He also lectured in industrial relations at the University of Notre Dame. In 2017, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council, representing the East Metropolitan Region. Re-elected in 2021, he held various Parliamentary Secretary roles, including to the Attorney General, as well as Mines and Petroleum, Energy, Industrial Relations, and Training and Workforce Development. He is a strong advocate for rare diseases, founding the Parliamentary Friends of People with Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases in 2021.

Matthew lives in Perth with his wife, Glenda, and their three adult children. He’s avid West Coast Eagles supporter.