Politics

Another one bites the dust: Liberal Minister Michael Keenan quits

Jan 26, 2019

Michael Keenan made the shock announcement on Friday evening and the reason for his departure from the Liberal party. Source: Getty

The Morrison government is set to lose yet another MP, with federal government minister Michael Keenan announcing he will quit politics at the next election. He currently serves as the member for Stirling in Perth.

The Human Services and Digital Transformation Minister issued a statement on Friday evening through Mathias Cormann, the Minister for Finance and the Public Service. He explained that spending time with family was one of the reasons he was set to depart.

Cormann spoke highly of Keenan, explaining that he’d made outstanding contributions to his local community and to the federal parliament as the longest serving Member for Stirling over a record 5 parliamentary terms.

“He has been a highly effective law enforcement Minister and continued to drive important reforms across our welfare administration as the Minister for Human Services,” the statement read. “He made a very significant contribution as part of our Liberal team from WA to secure a better deal for WA on the GST.”

Still, Cormann explained that serving in federal parliament at a senior level from Western Australia has an impact on families and noted that Keenan didn’t have children when he was first elected in 2004. He now has four children with partner Georgina.

“We are sad to see him go, but entirely understand and respect the reasons for his decision,” Cormann said. “Hayley and I wish him, Georgina and their four boys all the very best for their future.”

His departure comes less than a week after Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O’Dwyer announced her departure from politics in a shock move ahead of the election.

Similarly, O’Dwyer said her reason for leaving her political career behind was to spend more time with her family.

“After much agonising and with a heavy heart, I am announcing that I will not recontest the next election,” she told the Herald Sun last week. “I no longer want to consistently miss seeing my children get up in the morning or go to bed at night and I want to know that when I am around my time with them is not constantly disrupted.”

The politician went on to thank prime minister Scott Morrison for his support, claiming he is the right person to lead the country. Australians will hit the polls later this year.