Fowles was first elected in November 2018,initially representing the seat of Burwood in Melbourne's eastern suburbs for the Victorian Labor Party. Ahead of the 2022 Victorian state election,the seat of Burwood was abolished by Victoria's Electoral Boundaries Commission,leading Fowles to stand for the seat of Ringwood. He was elected as the Member for Ringwood in November 2022. After allegations of sexual assault of a government employee were published,Fowles resigned from the Labor caucus in August 2023 before resigning as a Labor member in August 2024. He has since sat as an independent.
Early life and education
Fowles grew up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.[1] He has three brothers.[2] His father is David Fowles,the chief executive and part owner of Fowles Auction Group.[1][3][4] His brother is Matt Fowles,chief executive and owner of Fowles Wines.[5][6][2] His brother Jack Fowles leads Fowles Entertainment,is the Manager of Major Giving at Arts Centre Melbourne,and is an Honorary Aide to the Governor of Victoria.[7][8]
Fowles worked as a strategic communications consultant before running for Parliament.[12] He has run a hospitality and property investment business,and a fund management business.[1][9]
Fowles has also served on key sporting boards and committees. In 2005,he became the youngest ever member of the MCC Committee,ultimately being re-elected twice and serving nine years in that role.[13] Additionally,he was appointed as a Trustee of the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust in 2015,where he served until 2018.[14]
At the 2018 Victorian state election,Fowles stood as the Labor candidate for the seat of Burwood,in Melbourne's east,challenging incumbent Liberal MP Graham Watt.[17] Fowles secured 53.3% of the two-party preferred result thanks to a strong 6.47% swing towards Labor,unseating Graham Watt and becoming only the second Labor MP to hold the traditionally Liberal seat once held by former Premier Jeff Kennett.[17][18] Fowles was sworn into office on 29 November 2018.[citation needed]
Fowles was appointed to the Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee on 21 March 2019. Since then,the committee has held inquiries into climate change action,environmental infrastructure and apartment design standards.[19][20][21]
On 25 July 2019,Fowles was questioned by ACT Police in Canberra following an incident in which he had kicked in the door of a hotel room at the Abode Apartments in Kingston.[22] Fowles was not charged with any offence and apologised for his actions,saying that he had been suffering from addiction and other mental health issues and had been attempting to retrieve medication from his luggage which was locked in the room.[23] Fowles took a leave of absence to address his health issues and returned later in the year as an advocate for the government's investment in mental health as recommended by the Mental Health Royal Commission.[24][25]
Member for Ringwood
In October 2021,the Victorian Electoral Boundaries Commission released the Report on the Redivision of Victorian Electoral Boundaries 2020–2021, confirming that Fowles' seat of Burwood was to be abolished,and split between the existing seat of Box Hill and the new seat of Ashwood.[26] This abolition resulted in Fowles standing for Ringwood electorate at the 2022 Victorian State Election,following the decision of incumbent Dustin Halse MP not to recontest. Fowles subsequently moved to Ringwood with his wife and their child,and won re-election at the 2022 Victorian state election with a 3% drop in first preference,but a 4.3% two party preferred swing in his favour.[27]
On 5 August 2023,Fowles resigned from the parliamentary Labor Party at the request of then-Premier Daniel Andrews following allegations of sexual assault of a government employee.[28][29] In January 2024,police announced the completion of their investigation and did not pursue criminal charges.[30]Jacinta Allan,who had since replaced Andrews as premier,declared that Fowles would not return to the Labor caucus.[31] Fowles formally resigned as a Labor member in August 2024.[32]
Policy positions
In his inaugural speech to Parliament following his election,Fowles spoke about the importance of addressing economic inequality and called for greater fairness in society. In particular,Fowles spoke about the need for more social housing,and the improved social mobility that stems from this.[33] In his speech,he expressed his support for the labour movement and the goal of an Australian Republic. In parliament,Fowles has spoken in favour of strong action on climate change,[34] improved healthcare services,[35] LGBTIQ+ rights,[36] women's rights[37] and investment in education and social housing.[38]
Personal life
Fowles married Fiona Clemens,when he was 24 years old.[1] He met Clemens in high school,and attended university with her.[1] Fowles and Clemens have a daughter named Molly.[1] After his marriage to Clemens,Fowles married Jessica Fox.[39]
Fowles is a strong advocate for mental health reform.[22] Fowles has openly discussed his struggles with depression and anxiety,which he was diagnosed with in 2006. "My focus is on ... working hard on my mental health and being a better rep".[40] He has since been a strong supporter of Victoria's Royal Commission into Mental Health,speaking in Parliament about his experiences with the mental health system after the final report was handed down in 2021.[41]
Fowles is a supporter of the Melbourne Demons and has been a member since 1996.[42]
1 2 Fowles, Will (19 December 2018). "First Speech". hansard.parliament.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
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