On Tuesday afternoon, I met with Premier Carroll to advise him that I will not be standing for re-election in November and accordingly, that I will be stepping down from the Ministry.
It has been an incredible honour to serve as the Member for Eastern Victoria since 2014, and as a Minister for the last four years. It has always been my view that we are custodians of these roles for the time that we have them, and it is now time for me to pass these opportunities and obligations on to the next person.
None of us do these jobs alone and I want to thank the people who have made it possible for me to serve. My friend and Chief of Staff Lindsay Rayner, and the truly amazing teams in my ministerial and electorate offices. We have worked so hard, and achieved so much, and we have done it together.
I also want to thank and extend my respect to the exceptional frontline workers, public servants, union members, and community leaders I have had the honour of working with in my ministerial duties.
I am so proud of the achievements of this Labor Government. I want to thank my friends Jacinta Allan and Daniel Andrews for the opportunity to serve in their Cabinets, and alongside my Caucus colleagues over this 12-year journey.
I have congratulated and wished Premier Carroll every success. He deserves the full support, solidarity, and respect of the Cabinet, the Caucus, and our entire labour movement as he takes the Government forward and into the all-important contest against the Liberal Party and One Nation in November.
I have no doubt that the fight we bring to the coming months will continue to be grounded in the principles and priorities that drive all of us. The Labor values of fairness, equity, support to manage the cost of living, buy, rent or build a home, find a great job, get a truly wonderful public education, and access to free public healthcare delivered by exceptional people.
This chapter has been the honour of my life.
I have worked hard, with and for the communities and people I have represented. And it has been a labour of love, and determination.
The thousands of social housing homes we have funded and built all over the state for people who deserve a home that they can be proud to call their own.
The record funding and reforms that have translated to more and better public healthcare and supports, for women and girls, for victim survivors of family violence, and particularly for reproductive rights.
The schools, TAFE campuses, hospitals, roads, rail, and kinders we have built and upgraded. The community and sporting facilities that will bring people together for generations to come. The delivery of more services through virtual care, work, and learning.
The multi-billion dollar funding and support for workers, families and communities across Gippsland who are living and working through the challenging long-term transition away from coal-fired power generation and native timber harvesting, to renewable energy and jobs and emerging prosperity in growth industries.
I've been so proud to be part of policy work and reform delivered through our government's nation-leading work - our voluntary assisted dying legislation, real and enduring support for LGBTIQA+ Victorians including the banning of conversion practices and the passage of anti-vilification legislation, improved water security, securing federal funding for the Suburban Rail Loop, and better protections for workers who deserve safe workplaces and fair wages and conditions.
Thank you to my beloved family and friends who have supported me, buoyed me, accepted me exactly as I am, and fed the animals when I've left home too early or arrived home too late. They have provided so much care and love to me over the years and I now hope to make it up to them in spades.
Finally, thank you in particular to my partner Lissie Ratcliff - for everything. Including an extremely reluctant agreement to add a pair of donkeys to the family on top of all of those dogs. I'm looking forward to spending more time with you all before my next chapter begins.
The work we do here really matters. And that work goes on.
