Huge blow to government’s re-election chances as minister Kelly O’Dwyer stands down, hurting Liberal chances of retaining key seat
- Kelly O'Dwyer felt now is time for 'someone else to be given opportunity to serve'
- Mother of two cited 'personal reasons' and wanting to spend more family time
- Ms O'Dwyer, 41, has served on the inner Melbourne seat of Higgins since 2009
- She was in Cabinet as Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Women
Federal Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer has dropped a bombshell after announcing she is quitting politics to spend more time with her young family.
Ms O'Dwyer, 41, confirmed the news at a media conference alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne on Saturday.
She is expected to continue with her ministerial duties until the May election but will not re-contest her seat.
The exit of Ms O'Dwyer is a significant blow for a government desperate to hold onto the inner-Melbourne seat of Higgins, which had long been a safe Liberal seat but was now seen within reach of Labor due to the Coalition's poor polling in Victoria.
Kelly O'Dwyer (pictured left) has quit Australian federal politics to spend more time with her family
The seat would have been challenging for the Liberals to retain even with a long-term sitting member, but now they have lost even that asset.
Losing one of the few senior female ministers would also provide more fuel for those arguing that the Coalition does not have enough senior women MPs or candidates.
O'Dwyer said on Saturday she expects to see the Liberal Party pre-select another woman for the seat of Higgins.
'I'm incredibly confident that this seat will be represented incredibly well by one of the talented people who will come forward - and I have no doubt that will be a woman,' she said.
Kelly O'Dwyer (pictured right) dropped a bombshell after formally quitting federal politics
Ms O'Dwyer pointed to 'personal reasons' as the primary factor behind her decision, with her daughter Olivia, three and a half, and her son Edward, almost two.
'I no longer want to consistently miss out on seeing my children when they wake up in the morning or go to bed at night...I want to know that when I am around, my time is not constantly disrupted,' she said.
'There is another very personal reason. Like so many other families, our journey to parenthood has not been straightforward.
'We need to be very realistic. I turn 42 ... this year and everything has to go right.'
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Ms O'Dwyer took over the seat from former Treasurer Peter Costello, whose office she had worked in.
She thanked Mr Morrison for his support, whom she worked closely with in his role as Treasurer from September of 2015 as well as Prime Minister.
Spending for time with her partner and young children was a factor in Kelly O'Dwyer (pictured right) stepping aside from federal politics
While sorry to see her go, Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured right) praised Ms O'Dwyer's contribution in Australian politics
'He is the right person to lead our nation,' she said. 'I will do all that I can, both locally and nationally, to ensure that continues.'
The PM praised Ms O'Dwyer, saying 'family is so important', and 'no one in Parliament has worked harder' to champion the cause of women.
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