Stephen Jones (Australian politician)

As a co-convenor of Labor's left faction in the federal parliamentary Labor Party, where as his electorate of Whitlam, is described as a socially conservative right wing seat,[19] while remaining economically aligned with the centre left views represented by the unions.[20] Jones has spoken in the House of Representatives on a number of issues of importance to the progressive political agenda including same-sex marriage, asylum seekers, introducing a carbon price and other environmental issues.

Jones gave a talk on "Politics in the Next Decade: A View from Generation X" at The Sydney Institute on 2 September 2013 in which he identified three areas where Labor needs to engage in the future:

First, our region – the Asia Pacific is where our economic, cultural and security will be built on enduring and reciprocal relationships which focus on long term mutual benefits, not short term opportunism.

Secondly, Labor’s relationship with small business which can and should transcend the campaign-driven transactional exchange of request and policy concession.

Labor was born of the aspiration of working people – our name reflects that. But our Party needs to recognise that the way we work has changed.

Thirdly, Labor should engage with progressive entrepreneurs – those who work in business who believe in generating social wealth, yet who are appalled by the intellectual paucity of Australia’s political debate;[21]

On 15 November 2010, in response to a motion concerning same-sex marriage moved by Adam Bandt, Federal Member for Melbourne (Australian Greens) in the House of Representative, Jones moved, as an amendment:

That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “this House calls on all parliamentarians, consistent with their duties as representatives, to gauge their constituents’ views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples including marriage”[22]

He articulated the political challenge:

If legislation is to be changed it will require consensus, which will require more votes than any single party can muster in this chamber. That will not be achieved by a heroic dash but by careful advocacy that respects different views, respectfully. On this issue there are different views. There are some who, on theological grounds, believe that to celebrate marriage of two men or two women is an affront to their religion. I have thought carefully about this objection, and I cannot help but draw the conclusion that the real objection here is not to the marriage but to the relationship.[23]

The amended motion was supported by Labor and passed in the House of Representatives,[24] the first such motion adopted in the lower house on same-sex marriage.

Following changes to the ALP National Platform in November 2011 to allow for marriage equality and a conscience vote for Labor MPs,[25] Stephen Jones agreed to put forward a Private Member's Bill to give effect to ALP policy in the Australian Parliament.[26] He introduced his bill to legalize same-sex marriage on 13 February 2012.[27] The Bill was defeated in the House of Representatives on 19 September 2012.[28]

Jones has campaigned on a number of other issues as an MP, including restrictions on gambling ads during TV sports broadcasts, for local job seekers in the mining industry, the early rollout of the National Broadband Network to the region, Labor party reform and renewal and Prime Minister Rudd's asylum seeker agreement with Papua New Guinea.