Stephen Jones (pictured with Wollongong City Council Lord Mayor Tania Brown) has taken a key role with the OECD. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Former member for Whitlam Stephen Jones has stepped into a new — more global — role following his retirement from politics earlier this year.
The former Labor politician has been named Australia’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
Mr Jones held the seat of Whitlam from 2010 to 2025. Following his retirement his seat went to Labor’s Carol Berry.
Apart from this 15-year stint as a member of the Federal Parliament, Mr Jones worked in the Treasury portfolio for almost six years and served as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services for nearly half of that time.
A joint announcement with Treasurer The Hon Jim Chalmers MP and the office of Senator the Hon Penny Wong stated Mr Jones brought a wealth of experience to advancing Australia’s interests at the OECD.
“In government, Mr Jones delivered reforms to strengthen Australia’s superannuation and financial systems, modernise markets and improve the integrity of our tax system,” the announcement read.
The announcement also thanked former ambassador and permanent representative Brendan Pearson and outgoing Chargé d’Affaires Anthony Stannard for their contributions.
The OECD is a forum and knowledge hub for data, analysis and best practices in public policy.
The organisation works with more than 100 countries as an “influential pillar of global economic governance and a recognised leader in economic research, analysis and evidence-based policy guidance on economic and social issues”.
Australia contributes to and benefits from the OECD’s work in areas spanning trade, health, employment, agriculture, overseas development assistance, energy, education, taxation, digital economy and environment policy.
The OECD has global reach through its member countries, key partners and regional initiatives. Australia supports the OECD’s increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific region as it builds a more globally representative membership.
