Health Minister Greg Hunt to quit politics

Health Minister Greg Hunt is set to walk away from politics, with an announcement expected on Thursday.

Health Minister Greg Hunt is expected to announce he will leave politics, joining former Attorney-General Christian Porter in the exit-lounge.

Mr Hunt is tipped to announce that he will not recontest his Victorian seat of Flinders, 20 years after first being elected to parliament.

He is expected to make the announcement on Thursday, and will remain as health minister until the election, which is expected to be around May.

It comes as former Attorney-General Christian Porter also confirmed he would leave parliament, on Wednesday, saying he would not recontest his West Australian seat of Pearce.

Mr Porter’s decision comes after he lost his cabinet spot over a historic rape allegation, which he has strongly denied.

Announcing the end of a political career he described as a “remarkable privilege”, Mr Porter made some pointed observations about modern politics.

“There are few, if any, constants left in modern politics,” he said.

“Perhaps the only certainty now is that there appears to be no limit to what some will say or allege or do to gain an advantage over a perceived enemy.

“This makes the harshness that can accompany the privilege of representing people, harder than ever before.

“But even though I have experienced perhaps more of the harshness of modern politics than most, there are no regrets.

“It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with great teams of men and women to drive change and to govern during remarkable times, including the most demanding time for government since WWII. I feel that not a moment of the last 14 years was wasted.”

Meanwhile, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was asked on Wednesday about the reports his colleague and friend Mr Hunt was retiring.

Health Minister Greg Hunt is reported to be leaving politics. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Christian Porter is leaving politics. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I will wait to see but details of Greg Hunt’s comment you have referred to,” he said.

“Greg is my closest friend in this place.

“We are very dear friends and he has been an outstanding Health Minister through this crisis.

“The fact that Australia has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world and the fact that we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world is in due to no small part to the incredible work that all health professionals have done across Australia, and Greg as the Health Minister on this once-in-a-century pandemic has been outstanding.

“I will leave any further comments to see exactly what statements you are referring to.”

Mr Hunt was asked by David Speers, the host of ABC’s Insiders, on November 14 whether he would be running again.

Hunt responded: “Pre-selected and running”.

Mr Hunt has overseen Australia’s coronavirus response and been in charge of the nation’s health portfolio for the last four years.

He is a father-of-two who was first elected to parliament in 2001.

Mr Hunt’s office had not confirmed the reports as of Wednesday.