Career
Matthew was elected at the 1989 election, defeating Labor"s Derek Robertson. Two weeks after John Olsen successfully challenged Dean Brown for the premiership in 1996, Matthew was dropped from cabinet having refused to support Olsen becoming premier. Despite this, Matthew was re-appointed to cabinet following the 1997 election, until his party lost government under premier Rob Kerin at the 2002 election.
Matthew held many and varied cabinet and shadow portfolios from 1990 to 2005.
On 14 March 2005, Matthew announced that he would retire from Parliament at the 2006 election and in May 2005 subsequently stepped down from the shadow cabinet. Matthew was succeeded in Bright by Labor"s Chloƫ Fox.
Matthew has worked as a Lobbyist since his retirement from Parliament.