Prominent politician dies suddenly aged 63 – Australian political world turned upside down: ‘We know this will come as a shock’
- Former MP Ewen Jones has tragically passed away
- The Townville-based liberal supported same-sex marriage
A Queensland politician has died suddenly aged 63 in a tragic incident that his family said would come as a ‘shock’ to all who knew him.
Ewen Jones served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Herbert’s federal seat in Townsville from 2010 to 2016 and was an early supporter of same-sex marriage within the coalition.
The former auctioneer, who moved to northern Queensland in the 1990s, was remembered as one steadfast of his community with a sense of humor.
His daughter, Emma Jones, revealed his sudden death in a social media post on Thursday.
“Ewen Jones passed away around 5am this morning surrounded by family,” she said.
“He’s resting now. I’m so lucky to have had him as my father.’
Devastated friends and colleagues have remembered Mr Jones, a father of three, as ‘Mr Nice Guy’ and ‘definitely the best of men’.
His daughter, Emma Jones, revealed his sudden death in a social media post on Thursday. “Ewen Jones passed away around 5am this morning surrounded by family,” she said
Ewen Jones was the Liberal Member of Parliament for Herbert from 2010 to 2016 and has been a staunch member of his community having moved to northern Queensland in the 1990s
Mr Jones was an advocate for same-sex marriage within the Coalition in 2015 when former Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposed the idea.
Former Liberal MP Wyatt Roy, a Queensland peer who was 20 when he was also first elected in 2010, fondly remembered his former colleague, with both early supporters of same-sex marriage on the Conservative side of politics.
“Today we lost my mate Ewen – the absolute best man. Ewen had the biggest heart and made every day fun,” he said.
“He was a fierce principled fighter, never afraid to stand up for the right thing. Also never afraid to light up a room with the most inappropriate joke. I love you mate.’
Mr Abbott described Mr Jones as a ‘classic Liberal candidate with a varied life’ who ‘didn’t do it for himself, but for what he could do for others’.
Former Treasurer Joe Hockey paid his respects, describing Mr. Jones as “loyal, sincere, energetic, funny, witty, smart and a root and branch Queenslander’.
‘Proud and true. To Linda and the family you owe all our love. Townsville and Australia will mourn his sad loss. RIP mate,” he wrote on Twitter.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Jones as a “classic Liberal candidate with a varied life” who “was concerned not for himself, but for what he could do for others”
Mr. Jones said he was an “auctioneer by trade” and most recently worked at Golf World Townsville as a sales team leader.
Mr Jones replaced Peter Lindsay as federal member for Herbert in 2010, when Labor under former Prime Minister Julia Gillard was re-elected but without a majority.
He lost his seat by 37 votes to Labour’s Cathy O’Toole in 2016, in an election that saw then Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull narrowly re-elected.
After politics he worked in various management roles.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, a colleague from Queensland, described him as a “jovial man who was a great prankster and a captivating storyteller’.
“Ewen will be greatly missed and always remembered. On behalf of the coalition, I extend my sincere condolences to Ewen’s wife Linda, his children Abbie, Emma and Andrew, his wider family, friends and colleagues,” he said.