{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Russell Matheson | honorific_suffix = | image = | constituency_MP = Macarthur | parliament = Australian | term_start1 = 21 August 2010 | term_end1 = 2 July 2016 | predecessor1 = Pat Farmer | successor1 = Mike Freelander | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|12|16}} | birth_place = Brisbane, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Sharon | party = Liberal Party of Australia | relations = | children = 2 | alma_mater = | occupation = Police officer | profession = | signature = | website = [http://www.liberal.org.au/Abbott-Team/People/Russell-Matheson.aspx Liberal People: Russell Matheson] | footnotes = }}
'''Russell Glenn Matheson''' (born 16 December 1958) is a former Australian politician who served as a Member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Macarthur representing the Liberal Party of Australia from August 2010 to July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-15508-131.htm |title=Division of Macarthur – First Preferences and Two Candidate Preferred |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |work=2010 Australian federal election |date=22 August 2010 |accessdate=22 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823170800/http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-15508-131.htm |archivedate=23 August 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Matthew |url=http://macarthur-chronicle-campbelltown.whereilive.com.au/news/story/russell-matheson-wins-federal-seat-of-macarthur-for-liberals |title=Russell Matheson wins federal seat of Macarthur for Liberals |publisher=News Community Media |work=Macarthur Chronicle |date=22 August 2010 |accessdate=22 August 2010}}</ref> The seat was previously held by Liberal Pat Farmer, who lost Liberal pre-selection and retired from politics.<ref name="Aust2009-10-30">{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26279405-5006784,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215190056/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26279405-5006784,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2012 |title =Star Howard recruit Farmer dumped by the Liberals |last=Salusinszky |first=Imre |date=30 October 2009 |work=The Australian |publisher=News Limited |accessdate=19 October 2009 }}</ref>
Matheson lost the seat in the 2016 federal election to Labor candidate Mike Freelander with an 11.7% swing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/maca/|title=Electorate: Macarthur|last=|first=|date=2 July 2016|website=Federal Election 2016|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref>
==Early years and background== Prior to entering politics, Matheson was a Sergeant in the New South Wales Police Force, with 23 years experience, and former local Australian football champion. He served 17 years on Council of the City of Campbelltown, including five years<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/default.asp?iSubCatID=2023&iNavCatID=1407 |title=Campbelltown City Council |website=www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908062533/http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/default.asp?iSubCatID=2023&iNavCatID=1407 |archive-date=2006-09-08}}</ref> as Mayor as an independent.<ref name="Aust2009-10-30"/>
==Politics== Matheson defeated Farmer for Liberal preselection in Macarthur. The seat had been made notionally Labor with a 0.5-point two-party-preferred margin in the electoral redistribution prior to the 2010 election, however Matheson won with a notional 3.5-point swing to finish on a 3-point margin.
After the 2010 election, it was revealed that Matheson failed to resign from his position on the Campbelltown Council before the election, putting himself at risk of High Court action, which would not allow him to take office as the member for Macarthur.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/30/how-wilkie%E2%80%99s-early-decision-will-determine-the-government |title=The power of Wilkie |first=Stephen |last=Mayne |date=30 August 2010 |accessdate=30 August 2010 |publisher=Crikey }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/matheson-will-stay-on-council-despite-mp-role/1922737.aspx |title=Matheson will stay on council, despite MP role |date=25 August 2010 |accessdate=30 August 2010 |first=Soraiya |last=Gharahkhani |work=The Macarthur Advertiser |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830105123/http://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/matheson-will-stay-on-council-despite-mp-role/1922737.aspx |archivedate=30 August 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Previously, independent Phil Cleary and Liberal Jackie Kelly have been faced with a by-election after failing to resign from public service positions before winning their respective seats.
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.liberal.org.au/Abbott-Team/People/Russell-Matheson.aspx Liberal People: Russell Matheson]
{{S-start}} {{S-par|au}} {{s-bef|before=Pat Farmer}} {{s-ttl|title=Member for Macarthur|years=2010–2016}} {{s-aft|after=Mike Freelander}} {{S-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matheson, Russell}} Category:1958 births Category:Australian police officers Category:Living people Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Macarthur Category:Australian MPs 2010–2013 Category:Australian MPs 2013–2016