{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Giulia Jones | honorific_suffix = | image = Giulia Jones Portrait (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = | constituency_AM = Murrumbidgee | assembly = Australian Capital Territory Legislative | term_start = 20 October 2012 | term_end = 2 June 2022 | successor = Ed Cocks | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1980}} | birth_place = Hobart, Tasmania | birth_name = | citizenship = | party = Liberal Party | spouse = Bernard Jones | partner = <!--For those with a domestic partner and not married--> | children = Six | alongside = Davidson, Steel, Hanson, Paterson | alma_mater = University of Tasmania | occupation = Politician | profession = | cabinet = Deputy Leader of the Opposition | committees = | portfolio = Shadow Minister for Health, Mental Health and Well-being and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs | signature = | signature_alt = | website = http://www.giuliajones.com.au }}
'''Giulia Jones''' (born 1980) is an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorates of Molonglo and then Murrumbidgee for the Liberal Party from 2012 until her resignation in 2022.<ref name="actla profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/members/eighth-assembly-members/molonglo/giulia-jones|title=Giulia Jones|work=Member profile|publisher=Legislative Assembly for the ACT|date=26 November 2013|accessdate=11 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name=cantimes>{{cite news |title=Four years later, Mrs Jones is ready for action|author=Cox, Lisa|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/four-years-later-mrs-jones-is-ready-for-action-20121031-28kt3.html|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=1 November 2012 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref> Jones was the deputy leader of the Liberal Party in the ACT from October 2020 to January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-26|title=Elizabeth Lee named ACT Opposition Leader|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-27/canberra-liberals-leadership-elizabeth-lee-alistair-coe/12816470|access-date=2020-11-12|publisher=ABC news|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|accessdate=8 March 2022|title=Giulia Jones steps down as deputy leader of Canberra Liberals to give her family support 'they need and deserve'|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-31/giulia-jones-steps-down-as-deputy-leader-of-canberra-liberals/100792294|newspaper=ABC news|date=31 January 2022|language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Background== Jones was born in Hobart, Tasmania to a mother of Italian descent<ref name="actla profile"/> and from a Catholic family.<ref name=citynews/> Jones often notes that her first name Giulia is spelt with a "G".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=2012-11-27 |title=Giulia with a G rejects 'nagging' feminism |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6162992/giulia-with-a-g-rejects-nagging-feminism/ |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> Jones studied political science and history and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania. She married army officer Major Bernard Jones, and moved to Canberra in late 2005 after twelve months in {{NTcity|Darwin}}. She ran a small business, worked in the public service, and as a political staffer for Sophie Mirabella and Tony Abbott.<ref name=citynews>{{cite news |title=Keeping up with the Jones girl|author=Harris, Eleri|url=http://issuu.com/citynews/docs/100624_2_citynews|newspaper=Canberra CityNews|date=22 June 2010|accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="actla profile"/> Jones is a mother of six children.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Doherty |first1=Megan |title=Giulia Jones has baby No. 6 in dramatic fashion |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6016230/giulia-jones-has-baby-no-6-in-dramatic-fashion/ |accessdate=29 May 2020 |work=The Canberra Times |date=13 June 2018}}</ref>
Prior to her election to the ACT Legislative Assembly, she had sought election on three occasions: pre-selection for a Tasmanian Senate seat in 2007; was a Liberal candidate for a Molonglo at the 2008 election; and at the 2010 federal election for the federal seat of Canberra.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jones, Giulia (1980 - ) |url=https://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE4838b.htm |website=The Australian Women's Register |publisher=Australian Women's Archives Project |accessdate=29 May 2020}}</ref> Following a 2018 reshuffling of the Liberal Party in the ACT's leadership, Jones was the Liberal spokeswoman for police and emergency services, corrections and women.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Burgess|first=Katie|date=5 February 2018|title=Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe reveals reshuffle ahead of Parliament return|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/act/canberra-liberals-leader-alistair-coe-reveals-reshuffle-ahead-of-parliament-return-20180205-h0tnne.html}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Union Organiser === Jones began her political career on the left of politics as a union organiser in Tasmania.<ref name="Fuller">{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Nicholas |date=2022-06-06 |title=Giulia Jones reflects on a decade of ACT political service |url=https://canberradaily.com.au/giulia-jones-reflects-on-a-decade-of-act-political-service/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Canberra Daily |language=en-AU}}</ref> This has led ACT Labor MLA, Chris Steel, to remark that "in another time or state, she could have found a home in Labor".<ref name="Fuller"/> In a speech in the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2017, Jones stated that she 'understands the value of unions'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 5151 week14 2017 - 9th Assembly Hansard - ACT Legislative Assembly |url=https://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/9th-assembly/2017/HTML/week14/5151.htm |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=www.hansard.act.gov.au}}</ref>
=== ACT Legislative Assembly === Jones was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2012 representing the electorate of Molonglo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.giuliajones.com.au/about-giulia|title=About Giulia|website=Giulia Jones MLA|access-date=2016-03-15}}</ref> Since November 2012 she has held a large number of shadow ministries and served on several committees.<ref name="Leg Assembly profile">{{cite web |title=Jones-Giulia |date=28 April 2020 |url=https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/members/ninth-assembly-members/murrumbidgee/jones-giulia |publisher=Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory |accessdate=28 May 2020}}</ref> With the redistribution of the ACT assembly seats she moved to the Murrumbidgee electorate.
On 24 May 2022, Jones announced she would resign from the Legislative Assembly in the next week. She formally resigned to the Speaker on 2 June, and Ed Cocks was elected in a countback on 20 June.<ref name="elecact">{{cite web |title=Casual vacancies in the tenth Legislative Assembly (2020–2024) |url=https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections_and_voting/casual_vacancies_in_the_legislative_assembly/casual-vacancies-in-the-tenth-legislative-assembly-2020-2024 |publisher=Elections ACT |access-date=20 June 2022 |language=en |date=20 June 2022 |archive-date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620081646/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections_and_voting/casual_vacancies_in_the_legislative_assembly/casual-vacancies-in-the-tenth-legislative-assembly-2020-2024 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="citynews2">{{cite news |title=Giulia Jones steps down from Legislative Assembly |url=https://citynews.com.au/2022/giulia-jones-steps-down-from-legislative-assembly/ |access-date=20 June 2022 |work=Canberra CityNews |date=24 May 2022 |language=en-AU}}</ref> Shortly after her resignation, Painaustralia announced that Jones had been appointed as their CEO.<ref name="citynews3">{{cite news |title=Giulia Jones appointed to CEO of Painaustralia |url=https://citynews.com.au/2022/giulia-jones-appointed-to-ceo-of-painaustralia/ |access-date=20 June 2022 |work=Canberra CityNews |date=6 June 2022 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
=== 2024 Senate Preselection === On 8 April 2024, Jones publicly announced her preselection nomination to run on the Liberal Party's Senate ticket.<ref name="Bushnell">{{Cite web |last=Bushnell |first=Ian |title=Revitalised Giulia Jones throws hat in ring for Liberal Senate ticket |url=https://the-riotact.com/revitalised-giulia-jones-throws-hat-in-ring-for-liberal-senate-ticket/759018 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Riotact |language=en}}</ref> Jones stated: "Canberrans deserve representation from the left and the right".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/WINNewsCanberra/videos/cancer-survivor-giulia-jones-is-preparing-for-her-next-big-battle-throwing-her-h/2143703492631302/ |title=Cancer survivor Giulia Jones is preparing for her next big battle - throwing her hat in the ring for senate preselection. #WINNews {{!}} Channel 8 & 80 (HD)... {{!}} By WIN News CanberraFacebook |language=en |access-date=2024-04-11 |via=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Speaking on independent Senator David Pocock, who defeated sitting Liberal Senator Zed Seselja in 2022, Jones stated he is "a nice fellow".<ref name="Bushnell"/> She says that a "positive person" like herself with a public profile could stand a chance against Pocock.<ref name="Bushnell"/> The preselection was held on 28 April 2024.<ref name="canberratimes.com.au">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-28 |title=Canberra Liberals preselect Senate candidates |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8609162/act-liberals-select-candidates-for-the-senate-at-next-election/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> Jones lost in the first round of voting, receiving only 23 of the available 300 votes.<ref name="canberratimes.com.au"/>
== Policy Positions ==
=== Pill Testing === In 2019, amongst debate on whether the Government should implement pill testing, The Canberra Times interviewed local ACT members to see if any ACT politicians have tried 'cannabis, MDMA [or] acid'.<ref name="Burgess">{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Katie |date=2019-01-24 |title=Which ACT politicians have tried cannabis, MDMA and acid? |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/5996392/which-act-politicians-have-tried-cannabis-mdma-and-acid/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> Jones said she had never done drugs, but had 'smoked a rolled up newspaper in high school'.<ref name="Burgess"/> "I had a pretty quiet upbringing I'd say," Jones said.<ref name="Burgess"/>
=== Territory Rights === Jones has been openly supportive of increasing territory rights for the Australian Capital Territory, noting that it is 'the natural progression for the ACT to have greater self-determination'.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-28 |title=Territory rights fight could extend beyond euthanasia: opposition |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7360968/territory-rights-fight-could-extend-beyond-euthanasia-opposition/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> Speaking to The Canberra Times in reference to euthanasia, Jones stated that for many the two issues were linked, but she is "[not] here to tell people what to do".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> She continued: "I respect the voters of the ACT and their rights and their desire for greater rights, because that's natural and normal".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Whilst Deputy Leader of the Canberra Liberals in 2021, Jones was part of the party room decision to support territory rights.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-31 |title='It's not off the table': Cheyne flags UN if feds won't let ACT make euthanasia laws |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7191211/its-not-off-the-table-cheyne-flags-un-if-feds-wont-let-act-make-euthanasia-laws/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> The decision resulted in a rare tripartisan motion from Labor, the Greens and the Canberra Liberals calling on the federal government to restore rights to the territory.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Upon resigning from the ACT Legislative Assembly in early 2022, Jones used her final speech to call for more territory rights for the ACT.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Twyford |first=Lottie |title=Outgoing Liberal MLA uses final speech to call for more territory rights |url=https://the-riotact.com/outgoing-liberal-mla-uses-final-speech-to-call-for-more-support-for-frontline-workers/563453 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Riotact |language=en}}</ref> Ultimately, the ''Restoring Territory Rights Act'' came into effect in December 2022.<ref>{{Citation |last=scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Infrastructure |first=Transport |title=Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022 |date=2022-12-13 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2022A00095/asmade |access-date=2024-04-23 |publisher=scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=Office Parliamentary Counsel; address=Locked Bag 30 Kingston ACT 2604; contact=+61 2 6120 1400}}</ref>
== Controversy ==
In a 2013 Canberra Times article, Jones commented that the ACT Labor Government was failing constituents in regards to local car park management.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Emma |date=2013-11-05 |title=Struggle to park irks volunteers |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6149877/struggle-to-park-irks-volunteers/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In 2020, Jones had her driver's license suspended for three months for various speeding offences while she was serving in the ACT Legislative Assembly as the Liberal opposition's spokeswoman for police and emergency services.<ref name="Canberra Times Speeding Article">{{cite web |last=Inman |first=Michael |date=27 May 2020 |title=Canberra Liberals police and emergency services spokeswoman Giulia Jones loses driver's licence for multiple speeding offences |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-28/canberra-liberals-giulia-jones-apologises-for-losing-licence/12293808 |accessdate=28 May 2020 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=White |first=Daniella |date=28 May 2020 |title=Liberal MLA Giulia Jones loses licence for speeding |work=The Canberra Times |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6772568/calls-for-liberal-police-spokeswoman-to-resign-after-losing-licence/}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=15 June 2020 |title=Canberra driver caught doing 214kph showed 'idiotic, dangerous and completely indefensible' behaviour |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-16/canberra-driver-caught-speeding-more-than-100kph-over-limit/12358918}}</ref> Shane Rattenbury, the Capital Territory's Road Safety Minister, responded by saying Jones had a "blatant disregard for road safety" and called for her resignation.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Jones subsequently stated: "After three months of getting around on my bicycle, it's given me some additional perspective and I'm looking forward to starting a-fresh".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-05-27 |title=Giulia Jones loses licence, spends 'three months getting around on my bicycle' |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-28/canberra-liberals-giulia-jones-apologises-for-losing-licence/12293808 |access-date=2022-12-07}}</ref>
==See also== * 2012 Australian Capital Territory election *Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 2012–2016
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|http://giuliajones.com.au/}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|au-act}} {{s-bef | before = Zed Seselja }} {{s-ttl | title = Member of the Legislative Assembly<br />for Molonglo | years = 2012–2016 | alongside = Hanson, Doszpot, Corbell, Barr, Gallagher, Rattenbury,Fitzharris }} {{s-aft|after=Electorate abolished}} {{s-par|au-act}} {{s-bef | before = Caroline Le Couteur }} {{s-ttl | title = Member of the Legislative Assembly<br />for Murrumbidgee | years = 2016–2022 | alongside = Davidson, Steel, Hanson, Paterson }} {{s-aft|after=Ed Cocks}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Giulia}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly Category:University of Tasmania alumni Category:Australian politicians of Italian descent Category:Politicians from Hobart Category:21st-century Australian politicians Category:21st-century Australian women politicians Category:Women members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly Category:Women deputy opposition leaders