Martin Foley (politician)

Martin Peter Foley (born 17 May 1962) is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2007, representing Albert Park. He has been Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality and Minister for Creative Industries in the Andrews Ministry since December 2014.

Foley was born in Mornington. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (history and politics) in 1987 from Monash University and received a Master of Commerce in 2000 from the University of Melbourne. From 1988–2003 he worked with the Australian Services Union before becoming chief of staff to the state Minister for Agriculture. In 2006 he became Chief of Staff to the Minister for Police.^[1] In 2007, Foley was elected to the Legislative Assembly following his preselection as the Labor candidate for the seat of Albert Park in the by-election which resulted from Deputy Premier John Thwaites's resignation.^[1] With the defeat of the Brumby Government in December 2010, Foley became a Parliamentary Secretary to various Opposition Shadow Ministers until in late 2013, Foley was appointed as Shadow Minister for Water, Arts & Youth Affairs and Shadow Minister assisting the Leader of the Opposition on Equality.^[2]

Following the election of the Andrews Labor Government at the November 2014 Election, Foley was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality and Minister for Creative Industries.

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