A fourth MP from Victoria’s Labor government will exit politics at the next election, which comes a day after three fellow MPs also announced their resignations.
Richard Wynne, the planning and housing minister and member for Richmond, published his statement on Facebook.
“As the son of a waterside worker, it has been an honour to serve the Australian Labor Party (ALP) at a local, state, and national level,” he said.
“I’m proud to be part of this socially progressive, reforming government—but I am focusing on the next 12 months.”
Wynne was first elected in 1999 and has served under three premiers, John Brumby, Steve Bracks, and incumbent Daniel Andrews.
He was previously a councillor in the City of Melbourne and served briefly as lord mayor between 1990 to 1991.
Premier Daniel Andrews thanked Wynne for his service in a statement on Nov. 25.
“In his inaugural speech in 1999, Richard described public housing as one of Melbourne’s most valuable social assets—something to be preserved, expanded, replenished,” he said.
“I’m sure he would have pinched himself then if you’d have told him that years later, he’d be at the helm of delivering the biggest social housing build Australia has ever seen,” he added.
“On a personal note, I owe Richard a debt of gratitude for his friendship and his frank and fearless advice over many years. I wish him, Svetlana, and their sons all the best for the future.”
On Nov. 24, three Labor MPs called it quits, including Jill Hennessy, former state attorney-general and member for Altona, Danielle Green, the member for Yan Yean, and Dustin Halse, the member for Ringwood.
Hennessy was earmarked as a potential successor to Premier Andrews.
Victoria’s next election is due on Nov. 26, 2022.
While the Labor government does hold 55 of the 88-seat Legislative Assembly, Premier Dan Andrews has had to weather several disruptions to his Cabinet over the past year.
In September 2020, Jenny Mikakos resigned as health minister and from Parliament immediately after the premier made comments contradicting her views on the handling of the state’s hotel quarantine system.
Meanwhile, ongoing investigations into “branch-stacking” in the Victorian ALP have seen several MPs resign from Cabinet while still remaining in Parliament, including Adem Somyurek, Marlene Kairouz, Robin Scott, and more recently, Luke Donnellan.
