More than two dozen government MPs in Victoria and NSW, including some high-profile politicians, have said they’ll quit as the states head towards elections in the coming months.
In NSW, Transport Minister David Elliott became the latest minister to announce he won’t be re-contesting his seat at the March election, citing factional troubles in his resignation statement.
“With the abolition of my Baulkham Hills electorate and advice that I cannot be accommodated in the new seat of Castle Hill on factional grounds, I have today advised my community that I will not be re-contesting the 2023 state election,” he said on Sunday.
He joins a growing list of ministers and government backbenchers who will be leaving politics as NSW heads to the polls in March 2023.
Victoria
In Victoria, where Premier Daniel Andrews will try to convince voters to reelect his government to a third term in November, at least 14 MPs, including a group of senior former ministers, have said they will bow out.
Former deputy premier James Merlino and ex-ministers Martin Foley, Martin Pakula and Lisa Neville all quit the cabinet in June and said they’ll vacate their seats at the November election.
The bulk resignation caused an opening for Andrews to reshuffle his cabinet and install a leftist factional ally, Jacinta Allan, as his new deputy.
Others had announced their intentions to leave parliament months earlier. During a six-week period ending in December last year, six Andrews government MPs announced they would retire at this year’s election.
The Andrews government is polling strongly to remain in power in November.
Market research firm Roy Morgan said last week the Victorian Labor Party had increased its two-party preferred vote share to 60% against the Coalition’s 40%, setting the Andrews government up for an “easy” win.
Victorian government MPs who will retire
Martin Foley, Albert Park MP, ex-health minister.
James Merlino, Monbulk MP, ex-deputy premier.
Lisa Neville, Bellarine MP, ex-police minister.
Martin Pakula, Keysborough MP, ex-trade minister.
Luke Donnellan, Narre Warren North MP, ex-child protection minister.
John Eren, Lara MP, ex-sport minister.
Mark Gepp, upper house MP for Northern Victoria.
Danielle Green, Yan Yean MP.
Dustin Halse, Ringwood MP.
Jill Hennessy, Altona MP, ex-attorney general.
Marlene Kairouz, Kororoit MP, ex-suburban development minister.
Frank McGuire, Broadmeadows MP.
Robin Scott, Preston MP, ex-veterans minister.
Richard Wynne, Richmond MP, ex-planning minister.
NSW
In NSW, Elliott’s resignation follows similar announcements from other sitting ministers.
In the past three months alone, ministers Victor Dominello, Geoff Lee, Rob Stokes and Melinda Pavey have all said they’ll leave at the March election.
So will Jonathan O’Dea, the speaker of the lower house, as well as a number of other Liberal and Nationals MPs.
Unlike his Victorian counterpart, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is facing polling headwinds going into the election, bearing in mind it’s early days and a lot can happen in the next five months.
Recent polls commissioned by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian newspapers both indicated Labor has taken the lead.
NSW Government MPs who will retire
David Elliott, Baulkham Hills MP, Transport Minister.
Rob Stokes, Pittwater MP, Infrastructure Minister.
Jonathan O’Dea, Davidson MP, Speaker.
Geoff Lee, Parramatta MP, Corrections Minister.
Victor Dominello, Ryde MP, Customer Service Minister.
Kevin Connolly, Riverstone MP.
Gabrielle Upton, Vaucluse MP, ex-attorney general.
Shelley Hancock, South Coast MP, ex-local government minister.
Stephen Bromhead, Myall Lakes MP.
Chris Gulaptis, Clarence MP.
Melinda Pavey, Oxley MP, ex-water minister.
