Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion quits politics on Australia Day

With news that Liberal Minister Michael Keenan would not be returning to politics after the next election, Nationals senator Nigel Scullion has become the second cabinet minister in the Morrison government to announce his retirement from parliament in less than 24 hours.

Scullion is currently the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and made the announcement on Australia Day.

“Today I announce that I will not be re-contesting the upcoming Federal Election,” he said in a statement shared on Facebook. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve the people of the Northern Territory for the last 17 years in the Australian Senate.

“I thank all Territorians for their support over this time. I have been proud to be a member of the Country Liberal Party – the only party that truly represents the real Territory.”

Scullion explained that he was an everyday fisherman and buffalo shooter and raised his three children on a fishing boat off the coast of Gove and North East Arnhem Land.

“John Howard famously said the Coalition is a very broad church and the fact that it has allowed a bloke like me to sit around its Cabinet table shows just why it continues to be the party hardworking Australian families keep putting their trust and faith in,” he explained. “And it has been my privilege to have served as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs over the last five years.

“I am grateful that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have welcomed me in every corner of this continent that I have visited, and worked with me in providing local and national solutions.”

In his statement, the 62-year-old thanked the prime minister and deputy prime minister and said he would continue on as Minister for Indigenous Affairs until the next election.

“Tomorrow, I will wake and continue to do all I can to serve Territorians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians,” he said. “There is always much to do and I know that our team led by Scott Morrison and Michael McCormack is the only team that delivers for our nation.”

Keenan — who is currently the Human Services and Digital Transformation Minister — announced his departure on Friday evening. He explained that spending time with family was one of the reasons he was set to depart.

Read more: Another one bites the dust: Liberal Minister Michael Keenan quits

It came less than a week after Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer said she was leaving politics to focus on her family.

What are your thoughts on this? Who will you vote for at the next election?