Canberra Liberals MLA Giulia Jones’s 10 years of political service draw to a close next week.
Mrs Jones has announced she will resign as a member for Murrumbidgee in the ACT Legislative Assembly, citing family and health reasons.
Mrs Jones is one of the longest-serving members of the Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly as Liberal member for Molonglo in 2012, and re-elected as member for Murrumbidgee in 2016 and 2020.
She became Deputy Leader of the Opposition in October 2020, but stepped down in January.
She has been Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs since 2012, and Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education since February. In her time, her Shadow portfolios included Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing; Police and Emergency Services; Corrections; and Women.
Mrs Jones’s final day in the Legislative Assembly will be next week. A Liberal spokesperson expected there would be a recount after her resignation.
Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee paid tribute to Mrs Jones for her hard work and service to the people of Murrumbidgee over the last decade.
“Giulia has fought tirelessly on a number of local issues that were of great importance to our community,” Ms Lee said.
“This includes her continued calls for shops at Coombs and Molonglo Valley, and better community facilities for people at Woden.”
Mrs Jones called for police protection for an Indian grocery in Coombs – at the time, the only store in the centre – that had been targeted by petty criminals.
“Giulia will be remembered for her fierce advocacy for women and families, and was a great role model for working mums,” Ms Lee continued.
Mrs Jones sponsored a petition calling on the ACT Government to make playgrounds appropriate for autistic children.
“Most of all, Giulia has continuously shown a great deal of empathy and conviction on representing many members of the community that have been left behind by this Labor-Greens Government,” Ms Lee said.
Last year, for instance, Mrs Jones called for an inquiry into racism in the ACT, following a surge in racism since the pandemic began.
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She also accused the ACT Government of neglecting healthcare workers, and called for healthcare workers to be given back their COVID leave
“I wish Giulia and her family all the very best,” Ms Lee concluded.
The ACT Greens acknowledged Mrs Jones’ contributions to the ACT Legislative Assembly during her time as an MLA.
“Giulia has shown a real dedication to her beliefs and her community since she entered the Assembly in 2012, and she always brought a real conviction to debates in the Assembly,” ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said.
“My colleagues also appreciated her advocacy as a Member for Murrumbidgee, in particular being able to work together in the multi-party effort to save Coolo Park.
“We wish Mrs Jones and her family the best for the future, without the time and work pressures that being an elected representative of our community can bring.”
