Labor national secretary George Wright quits politics, joins BHP

ALP national secretary George Wright is returning to the corporate sector after five years in the job.

George Wright played a key role in the ALP’s election campaigning.

ALP National Secretary George Wright is set to join resource major BHP Billiton, after earlier today announcing he will stand down after serving more than five years in the role.

The move represents a return to the corporate sector for Mr Wright, who had previously held a senior communications position with National Australia Bank, before taking the ALP role.

Mr Wright, who steered Labor through two federal election campaigns, issued a statement today saying it had been an “enormous honour and privilege” to serve in the role. Labor leader Bill Shorten also thanked him for serving the party “with honour.”

Mr Wright said he arrived at the decision after lengthy conversations with his family and Labor Leader Bill Shorten.

“After two federal election campaigns, two ALP National Conferences and numerous by-elections it is time for me to spend more time with my family in my home town of Melbourne and seek new challenges and opportunities,” he said.

Mr Wright alerted the ALP National Secretariat to his decision early this morning.

He had previously worked at the ACTU until 2007 where he helped mastermind the successful ‘Your Rights at Work’ campaign which propelled Labor into power under the leadership of Kevin Rudd.

Mr Wright paid tribute to the Labor leaders he worked under including Julia Gillard, who handed him the chance to serve as National Secretary in 2011.

Mr Wright said that Mr Rudd continued to work with him and the National Secretariat “despite the difficulties we faced” at the 2013 election.

He also thanked Mr Shorten who he said “worked so closely and cooperatively with the party organisations in the 2016 election campaign.”

Mr Wright said the 2016 campaign had “demonstrated what a great Labor leader and campaigner” Mr Shorten was, arguing he would make a “great Australian Prime Minister.”

He was confident he had left the party in “good shape” and well position to “take the next step and win government.”

“I wish my successor all of the best whoever they may be,” he said. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served as Labor National Secretary.”

Mr Wright had also served as press secretary to then finance minister Lindsay Tanner as well as Mr Rudd in the early years of the Rudd Labor government before joining the National Australia Bank in 2009, taking up a senior public affairs role.

Mr Shorten also issued a statement this morning, saying that Mr Wright had “served the party he loves with honour.”

“As National Secretary, he’s been central to the work of rebuilding Labor, growing our membership and engaging with supporters and volunteers in new and better ways.”

“I have worked alongside George in various capacities for 22 years - he’s someone whose advice I’ve always valued.”

Mr Shorten hailed Mr Wright as someone who was calm under pressure and who never lost his sense of humour, even in the “toughest of times.”

“Our entire movement thanks him for his distinguished service and we wish him all the very best with what the future holds.”

Mr Wright has played a key role in the ALP’s election campaigning and modernising the party.

“It is time for me to spend more time with my family in my home town of Melbourne and seek new challenges and opportunities,” Mr Wright said in a statement on Tuesday.