Former emergency services minister Jane Garrett to quit politics

Victorian upper house MP Jane Garrett will not contest the 2022 state election, saying she wants to make way for “the next generation of MPs”.

Former Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett will not seek re-election in 2022. Picture: David Caird

Former Labor minister Jane Garrett will not contest the 2022 state election, telling Labor colleagues on Friday she intends to step aside.

The upper house MP has spent more than a decade in politics and bravely battled a breast cancer diagnosis in 2016.

Ms Garrett will stay in government in 2022 but will not nominate for a spot on the ticket as the party selects candidates.

She is the seventh Labor MP to announce her retirement from politics in two weeks.

“It’s a sign of just how strong the Labor Party is when so many people make the call to

step aside and give our huge range of talented young people the opportunity to

become the next generation of MPs,” she said in a statement.

“Today it’s my time to help that shift to renewal.

“It’s been such a privilege to represent the people of Victoria in both the District of

Brunswick and the Region of Eastern Victoria. I’ve been welcomed into people’s

homes, their businesses, schools and community groups and I thank each and

everyone I’ve met and worked with on the way.

“Fighting for jobs, equality, social justice and a first class education for all has been

the mantra of every Andrews Labor Government MP and it’s been a loud and proud

one.”

Jane Garrett is leaving after more than a decade in politics. Picture: David Caird

Ms Garrett said she was grateful for the people she had worked with throughout her career.

“And to

those who are coming after I wish you all the very best.

“Finally thank you to my three beautiful children who are the great joys of my life. I’m

so looking forward to spending more time with you.”

Once viewed as a rising star and future premier, she was also left reeling after a messy dispute between the United Firefighters Union and the government over a workplace agreement for fire services.

Ms Garrett was emergency service minister in the Andrews Government but resigned from Cabinet in 2016 as the fire services saga unfolded.

The MP chose to stand down from her role after she refused to support the Cabinet’s proposal to end the dispute.

Ms Garrett had also worked as a lawyer and as a senior adviser in the office of then premier Steve Bracks before being elected to parliament in the seat of Brunswick in 2010.

In 2017, she nominated her battle with breast cancer as one of the reasons she would leave the lower house seat to seek preselection for the upper house.

Her initial bid was torpedoed by internal enemies but she managed to win preselection in Eastern Victoria and was elected.

Most recently she has been the parliamentary secretary for jobs.

Daniel Andrews said Ms Garrett could be “rightly proud” of her contribution to Victoria.

In a statement, The Premier thanked her for her long service to the parliament and to the Labor party.

“Across Jane’s long political career, she has served the Australian Labor Party and Labor governments as a staffer, a local member, a party officer, a parliamentary secretary and a minister,” he said.

“Delivering secure jobs and a quality education for working people has always been at the heart of Jane’s commitment to her work.

“She can be rightly proud of her contribution to our movement and to our state.”