Retiring O’Connor says he’s leaving ‘most cohesive’ government in two decades
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The news: Outgoing Minister Brendan O’Connor insists the government is the “most cohesive” he has seen in over two decades in Parliament.
The Skills and Training Minister will retire from politics at the next federal election, a decision he said was largely driven by the strain cabinet roles place on politicians’ personal lives. He quit the cabinet in the interim.
O’Connor — who served as a minister in the Rudd, Gillard and Albanese administrations — said he was proud to have served in the “the most cohesive, united government I have witnessed since I was elected” in 2001.
What they said: “These are great jobs, fantastic jobs … but they are not the greatest exemplars for balancing work and family," he said.
"I am not complaining because I have been so lucky but I do think it is time I spent more time at home with my daughter."
Outgoing Burney says she gave all she could, time to ‘pass the baton on’
More news: Outgoing Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney says it is “time to pass the baton on” to a new generation, saying she “won’t be the last” Indigenous woman appointed to cabinet.
At times fighting tears, Burney said her entire life had been dedicated to advancing the lives of Indigenous Australians, and included progress in housing in the Northern Territory, revamping community development programs, and helping young First Nations people into work.
Burney, who spent more than two decades in state and federal parliament, also insisted that while the Voice referendum had not delivered the result Labor wanted, history “will treat it kindly”.
What they said: “I know in my heart, I gave all that I could to close the gap and to advance Reconciliation," Burney said.
"I have been through more than my fair share of life's ups and downs, but I think I have done it with kindness, grace, resilience, intelligence, and integrity."
Albanese announces imminent reshuffle as two ministers bow out
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has paved the way for a cabinet reshuffle by confirming two ministers, Linda Burney and Brendan O’Connor, will move to the backbench immediately and retire at the next election.
The context: Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Albanese said Burney – the Minister for Indigenous Australians – and O’Connor – the Skills and Training Minister – had recently informed him they would step away from politics at the next election. The pair will immediately quit their frontbench roles.
As revealed by Capital Brief this week, Albanese confirmed he will announce a ministerial reshuffle on Sunday.
O’Connor has held a number of frontbench roles since first entering Parliament in 2001, serving in cabinet under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He was instrumental in Labor’s fee-free TAFE policy which it has implemented in government.
Burney became the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives at the 2016 election, after spending more than a decade in the NSW state parliament. She went on to become the first Indigenous woman to hold her current portfolio. Speculation over her future mounted after Australians comprehensively rejected the Indigenous Voice to Parliament at a referendum in October.
What they said: “They have also made the decision … to enable a refresh and enable some new ministers to be able to take their place and take us forward over the coming months," Albanese said.
The source: Prime Ministerial press conference
