Matt Singleton
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Singleton (born 14 September 1927) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Country then National Party
member for Clarence
from 1971 to 1981 and for Coffs Harbour
from 1981 to 1990 in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
. He was also Minister for Administritive Services and Assistant Minister for Transport from 1988 to 1989.
Singleton was born in Coffs Harbour
. On 26 November 1955 he was married to Nancy, with whom he has five children. He was a farmer and company director before entering politics, and was chairman of the Bonville
Boambee branch of the Country Party
from 1957 to 1971, and of the electoral councils for the state seat of Raleigh
(1958–70) and the federal seat of Cowper
(1958–72). He was also a member of the party's Central Council (1968–72) and Central Executive. He was also active in farming groups as State President of the Junior Farmers of New South Wales (1962–63) and Vice President of the New South Wales Jersey Herd Society.
In 1971, following the retirement of sitting Country Party member Bill Weiley
, Singleton was selected as one of two Country Party candidates for the state seat of Clarence
. Although outpolled by the Labor Party
on the primary vote, the preferences of the second Country candidate and two independents gave him a fairly comfortable victory with 55.11% of the two-party-preferred result. In 1981, Singleton's seat was made notionally Labor and he transferred to the new seat of Coffs Harbour
. He served eleven months as Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport in the Greiner
government from 1988 to 1989, before resigning from politics in 1990.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was the Country then National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member for Clarence
Electoral district of Clarence
Clarence is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales.It was represented by Steve Cansdell of the National Party of Australia until he resigned on 16th September 2011 due to issues relating to a statutory declaration related to a speeding offence...
from 1971 to 1981 and for Coffs Harbour
Electoral district of Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Andrew Fraser of the National Party of Australia....
from 1981 to 1990 in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
. He was also Minister for Administritive Services and Assistant Minister for Transport from 1988 to 1989.
Singleton was born in Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
-History:By the early 1900s, the Coffs Harbour area had become an important timber production centre. Before the opening of the North Coast Railway Line, the only way to transport large items of heavy but low value, such as timber, was by coastal shipping. This meant sawmillers on the North Coast...
. On 26 November 1955 he was married to Nancy, with whom he has five children. He was a farmer and company director before entering politics, and was chairman of the Bonville
Bonville, New South Wales
Bonville is a small town located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, 11 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour. It has a population of 1,891. The town's name supposedly derives from "Bongol Bongol/Bongil Bongil" which means a place where one stays a long time.The town is best known for...
Boambee branch of the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
from 1957 to 1971, and of the electoral councils for the state seat of Raleigh
Electoral district of Raleigh
Raleigh was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, partly replacing Macleay, and named after Raleigh County. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Oxley, along with...
(1958–70) and the federal seat of Cowper
Division of Cowper
The Division of Cowper is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election and is named for Charles Cowper, an early Premier of New South Wales...
(1958–72). He was also a member of the party's Central Council (1968–72) and Central Executive. He was also active in farming groups as State President of the Junior Farmers of New South Wales (1962–63) and Vice President of the New South Wales Jersey Herd Society.
In 1971, following the retirement of sitting Country Party member Bill Weiley
Bill Weiley
William Robert Weiley was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1955 until 1971. He was a member of the Country Party....
, Singleton was selected as one of two Country Party candidates for the state seat of Clarence
Electoral district of Clarence
Clarence is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales.It was represented by Steve Cansdell of the National Party of Australia until he resigned on 16th September 2011 due to issues relating to a statutory declaration related to a speeding offence...
. Although outpolled by the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
on the primary vote, the preferences of the second Country candidate and two independents gave him a fairly comfortable victory with 55.11% of the two-party-preferred result. In 1981, Singleton's seat was made notionally Labor and he transferred to the new seat of Coffs Harbour
Electoral district of Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Andrew Fraser of the National Party of Australia....
. He served eleven months as Minister for Administrative Services and Assistant Minister for Transport in the Greiner
Nick Greiner
Nicholas "Nick" Frank Hugo Greiner AC, is an Australian businessman and former politician. He was the 37th Premier New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1988. He is married...
government from 1988 to 1989, before resigning from politics in 1990.