Brad Hazzard joins NSW Liberals departure lounge

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard will retire from politics at next year’s state election, becoming the fifth senior minister in the Perrottet government to leave politics.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard will retire from politics at next year’s state election, becoming the fifth senior minister in the Perrottet government to leave politics.

Mr Hazzard, the longest-serving member in the lower house after entering parliament in 1991, spent more than 10 years in cabinet and played a frontline role in the NSW government’s fight against Covid-19.

In a statement on Monday Mr Hazzard said his five years in the health portfolio had been “the best of times and the worst of times”.

“The best of times has been working with the incredibly talented medical and non-medical staff in our health system, the building of 180 hospitals and health facilities across NSW (with more to come); as well as the huge increases in staff,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The worst of times came with Covid-19.”

He thanked his wife and family for their support, “especially over these past three Covid-challenged years” and his staff working in electorate and ministerial roles.

Mr Hazzard’s decision follows those of Transport Minister David Elliott, Cities Minister Rob Stokes, Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello and Corrections Minister Geoff Lee, who have all announced their ­retirements at the next election, on March 25.

Colleagues within the Liberal Party had been expecting the veteran MP to retire but The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday night that he made the final decision over the weekend after agonising for some time.

Mr Hazzard first served in cabinet as planning and infrastructure Minister before a year as attorney-general and a three-year stint in the social housing and family and community services portfolios. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Hazzard was a “tireless and committed advocate for people right across our state”.

“I thank my friend and colleague Brad Hazzard for his tireless commitment to serving the people of NSW throughout his 32 years in parliament as a local member and minister. Our state is a better place thanks to Brad’s significant contribution,” Mr Perrottet said.

“In the halls of NSW parliament, Brad has been a breath of effervescent energy, colour and life and a generous mentor and friend to many members, both within the government and across the political aisle.”

Mr Hazzard said the decriminalisation of abortion in 2019 was one of his proudest political moments, achieved after he co-sponsored a bill with 14 other members of parliament from both sides of the chamber.

“Working with colleagues across the political divide to right the antiquated wrong of potential criminalisation of women and doctors who found themselves making the difficult decision to undertake an abortion, was another important moment for me,” he said.

Mr Perrottet faces an uphill task to win a fourth term for the Liberal Party, which is trailing in the polls and already in a minority government.