Former Victorian treasurer John Lenders to quit politics at next election

FORMER Victorian Treasurer John Lenders has announced he will retire at the next state election.

Former treasurer John Lenders.

FORMER Victorian Treasurer John Lenders has announced he will retire at the next state election.

Mr Lenders, the member for the Southern Metropolitan Region, today announced he would quit politics next November, after more than 14 years in public office.

He was the Treasurer from 2007 to 2010 and a senior Minister for eight years under the Bracks and Brumby Governments.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Mr Lenders had played a valuable role as the Leader of Government and then Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council during his career.

"John was also responsible for the state economy retaining its Triple A credit rating during the global financial crisis and for delivering successive budget surpluses," Mr Andrews said.

Mr Lenders will remain in the Shadow Cabinet, as the spokesman for agriculture and food security, water and resources until a leadership reshuffle is finalised.