The Victorian Andrews Government will reshuffle its frontbench ahead of the state election in November, after four senior cabinet ministers advised that they will retire from politics.
James Merlino, Martin Foley, Lisa Neville and Martin Pakula have announced that they will not contest the election, and will step down from their portfolios to give their successors time to settle in prior to the election. Jill Hennessy and Richard Wynne have previously announced that they will quit parliament at the election. Gavin Jennings also retired in 2020.
The latest retirements means there are just six remaining members of the state government’s first cabinet in 2014.
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The next graphic from the Herald-Sun tells the tale:
Despite the resignations/retirements, Melbourne’s seven months of hard lockdowns, and a raft of other controversies, I still see Labor winning the upcoming election.
Victoria has become a virtual one party state with the Liberal Opposition next to useless and its leader, Matthew Guy, viewed as shifty.
Much like monopolies in business, one party states always lead to poor outcomes. We need oppositions to be competent and competitive to drive the best policy outcomes.
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also Chief Economist and co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.
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