Richard Jones (New South Wales politician, born 1940)

For the NSW politician Richard Jones Snr (1786–1852) who was a member of the Legislative Council (1856–1860), see Richard Jones (1786–1852). For the NSW politician Richard Jones Jnr (1843–1909) who was a member of the Legislative Council (1899–1909), see Richard Jones (New South Wales politician, born 1843). For the NSW politician Richard Jones (1816–1892) who was a member of the Legislative Assembly (1843–1848), see Richard Jones (1816–1892).

For other people with similar names, see Richard Jones (disambiguation).

Richard Jones
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office 13 March 1988 – 28 February 2003
Preceded by	The Hon. Dr. Elisabeth Wilma Kirkby
Succeeded by	Arthur Chesterfield-Evans
Chairman and inaugural leader of Friends of the Earth Australia
In office 1974–?
Personal details
Born	(1940-02-16) 16 February 1940 Epsom, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Political party	Independent (after 1996)
Other political affiliations	Democrats (until 1996)

Richard Stanley Leigh Jones (born 16 February 1940) was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 13 March 1988 to 28 February 2003.

Biography

Personal life and political career

Born in Epsom, Surrey, England, educated at Downsend School and Epsom College, he emigrated to Australia in 1965. He joined the Australia Party in 1971 and later the Australian Democrats, and was elected twice to the parliament as a Democrats candidate. He left the party in 1996 whilst still a sitting member and turned Independent, after endorsing Australian Labor Party candidates in the 1996 Federal election.

Green politics

He was the first convenor of Friends of the Earth Australia and assisted in the founding of Greenpeace in Australia. During his time in parliament, he voiced concern about environmental issues, including destruction of sand dunes at Myall Lakes.

Beyond his dedication to green politics and animal rights issues, he was also a vigorous proponent of alternative medicine; speaking several times in parliament in favour of homoeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine.

See also

• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1999-2003