Townsville former MP Ewen Jones suddenly dies

A Queensland politician has suddenly died at just 63 years old in a tragic incident which his family said would come as a ‘shock’ to all who knew him.

Ewen Jones was the Liberal MP for the Townsville-based federal seat of Herbert from 2010 to 2016, and is a stalwart of his community after moving to north Queensland in the 90s.

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 is at peace now. I am so lucky to have had him as my dad.’

Devastated friends and colleagues have remembered Mr Jones, a father of three, as ‘Mr Nice Guy’ and ‘the absolute best of men’.

Ewen Jones was the Liberal National MP for Herbert from 2010 to 2016 and is a stalwart of his community after moving to north Queensland in the 90s

Former Liberal MP Wyatt Roy, who was 20 when he was also elected in 2010, remembered his former colleague fondly.

 ‘Today we lost my mate Ewen – the absolute best of men. Ewen had the biggest of hearts and made every day fun,’ he said.

‘He was a fiercely principled fighter, never afraid to stand up for what was right. Also never afraid to lighten a room with the most inappropriate joke. I love ya mate.’

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 have all our love. Townsville and Australia will mourn his sad loss. RIP mate,’ he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Jones was a self-described ‘auctioneer by trade’ and was most recently working at Golf World Townsville as a sales team lead.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott described Mr Jones as a ‘classic Liberal candidate with a varied life’ who ‘wasn’t in it for himself, but for what he could do for others’

He’d spent his time since losing the 2016 election at several companies in various management roles.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott described Mr Jones as a ‘classic Liberal candidate with a varied life’ who ‘wasn’t in it for himself, but for what he could do for others’. 

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described him as a ‘jovial man who was a marvellous teller of jokes and a captivating storyteller’.

‘Ewen will be greatly missed and always remembered. On behalf of the Coalition, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Ewen’s wife Linda, his children Abbie, Emma and Andrew, his wider family, friends and colleagues.’