Former NSW treasurer Matt Kean announces political retirement
Former Liberal NSW treasurer Matt Kean has announced his retirement from state politics, but also ruled out a tilt at federal parliament at the next election.
Former Liberal NSW treasurer Matt Kean has announced his resignation from state politics while ruling out a tilt at federal parliament at the next election.
Mr Kean, the MP for Hornsby for 13 years, and the opposition’s health spokesman, said he was retiring from parliament to pursue a career in the private sector, in the energy and environment space.
“I feel I made significant and positive changes in energy policy during my time as energy minister, so I intend on continuing to try and make an impact in the private sector,” he said on Tuesday afternoon, flanked by four-year-old son Tom and partner Wendy Paterson. “I won’t be running for federal parliament.”
Mr Kean was the energy and environment minister in both the Berejiklian and Perrottet governments, where he delivered the electricity infrastructure road map, outlining the state’s plan to transition to renewable energy.
“The electricity infrastructure road map is the biggest renewable energy policy in our nation’s history, and our emissions reduction targets are achievable,” he said.
His resignation comes as parliament tussled over Daniel Mookhey’s budget on Tuesday.
Mr Kean said he was “sorry” to take attention away from “the worst budget in modern history”.
He said who replaced him in Hornsby was a matter for the Liberal Party and “nothing had been finalised” in relation to his steps into the private sector.
On Friday, the Australian Electoral Commission revealed proposed federal boundary changes, that would have seen the Liberal north shore seat of Bradfield become more marginal against a potential Teal candidate.
That had prompted speculation that Mr Kean could be the best-placed Liberal figure to stave off a Teal independent.
Liberal leader Mark Speakman called his career “remarkable” and said he had made a “great contribution to NSW”.
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