Martin Foley and Martin Paluka are two of the ministers stepping down form politics. Photo: AAP Image
Martin Foley and three other ministers from Victoria have announced that they will be stepping down from politics. This comes as the health minister focuses his time on family and other interests.
According to 7News, Martin Foley would have served as Victoria’s health minister for the past two years. In 2020, Martin took over the role of former health minister Jenny Mikakos who gave her resignation in September 2020.
Since then Martin Foley has brought Victoria through one of the harshest times in the past two years. Right now, the minister will not contest his seat at Albert Park.
In a public announcement this Friday morning, Premier Daniel Andrews shared that three of Victoria’s ministers will be stepping down from politics this year and will not contest their seats in the November election this year.
To date, Martin Foley shares that he will be focussing his time on his family and his other interests. The health minister shared that his mental health and well-being is important at this time but will focus on making Victoria great in other ways.
“I am looking forward to contributing to a better, fairer, sustainable Victoria in a different capacity. One that allows me more time to focus on my family and wellbeing and different interests.”
Right now, some of the ministers stepping down include Martin Foley, James Melino, Lisa Neville, and Martin Pakula. Each minister has thus far found it both mentally and physically draining to uphol their positions.
In making the decision, Lisa Neville shared that she consulted both her family and doctors to make the hard decision. Having taken leave last year following her struggles with Crohn’s disease, the police minister decided to step down from politics.
More: Queen: What you need to know about the film on identity
So far, Premier Daniel Andrews has expressed his gratitude towards each minister. While the pandemic was tough, Andrews acknowledged that Martin Foley remained calm and delivered Victorians safely through the peak of the pandemic.
“Martin stepped up to do one of the most difficult jobs in a global pandemic. His professionalism, and his calm, deliberate direction saw Victoria through the worst of it,”