Jill Hennessy Stepping Down as Victoria’s Attorney-General

Jill Hennessy Stepping Down as Victoria’s Attorney-General
Jill Hennessy enters the Victorian parliament house in Melbourne, Australia, on April 23, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
12/16/2020
Updated:
12/16/2020

Jill Hennessy has announced she will immediately step down from her role as Victoria’s Attorney-General but intends to contest the next state election.

Hennessy, who took on the role in 2018, said she had decided to leave the Victorian cabinet for family reasons.

“Political life can be hard on families,” the 48-year-old said in a statement on December 16.

“Mine is at a stage where they need more of me and even more importantly, I need more of them. Like everyone managing the collision between work and family life, sometimes something has to give, at least for a little while.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Hennessy, who previously served as health minister, had made a “courageous” decision and had his full support.

“Our cabinet has been stronger, and our state made fairer by her outstanding contribution,” Andrew said.

The Victorian premier said further announcements about his ministry would be made in the coming days.

Gus McCubbing in Melbourne