Western Australian Treasurer Ben Wyatt resigns … again

Star McGowan government performer Ben Wyatt has announced for the second time in less than a year that he is quitting politics.

WA Treasurer Ben Wyatt at the steps of Parliament House.

Western Australian Treasurer Ben Wyatt, the McGowan government’s star performer, has announced for the second time in less than a year that he is quitting politics.

Mr Wyatt first announced in February that it was his intention to retire at the 2021 state election but changed his mind soon after, saying he wanted to help steer WA’s economy through the COVID-19 crisis.

On Monday he said: “I have made the difficult decision to reaffirm my previous intention to retire at the next state election”.

“In March, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the Western Australian community, I had been reluctant to leave in the midst of this great fight,” he said.

“But having completed the delivery of the state budget, which supports the continued economic recovery from the pandemic, I am now confident that Western Australia is well on its way to overcoming the challenges presented to it by COVID-19.”

Mr Wyatt is an Indigenous man and the state’s Aboriginal Affairs minister. His uncle is Indigenous Australians’ minister Ken Wyatt.

Mr Wyatt, a lawyer and a graduate of the London School of Economics, said his reasons for quitting had not changed since February when he made his first announcement. At the time his wife had just recovered from a serious illness. He explained that as their two daughters grew, he realised there was a short window when he would be able to spend time with them.

“I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to serve as treasurer and a cabinet minister for our great State, and I greatly appreciate the support of my colleagues and my family for making that possible,” he said.

Mr Wyatt will step down in March when West Australians go to the polls.