Dan Andrews cabinet reshuffle after James Merlino, Martin Foley, Martin Pakula, Lisa Neville quit

Four senior ministers in Daniel Andrews‘ government, including the deputy premier and health minister, will leave the cabinet immediately after announcing their retirement from politics.

In what will require a major reshuffle of the Victorian cabinet, Mr Andrews on Friday confirmed Deputy Premier James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley, Sports Minister Martin Pakula and Police Minister Lisa Neville would not recontest their seats at this year’s state election, to be held on November 26. 

Mr Andrews said the senior ministers were ‘people who have devoted so much of their working life to making our state fairer and stronger’ and described them as ‘people of great character who can be so so proud of all that they have been part of.’

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Deputy Premier James Merlino (left) and Health Minister Martin Foley (right) confirmed they would be stepping down to focus on being fathers and spending more time with their kids

In a statement, Deputy Premier James Merlino and Martin Foley both said a major factor was they wanted to focus on being good fathers and spend more time with their children. 

Mr Merlino said he would step back from his portfolios, including education, and would not recontest his seat of Monbulk at the upcoming state election in November. 

‘It has been an honour and a privilege to serve in the Victorian Parliament and represent my community of Monbulk. I leave with feelings of deepest gratitude, a little sadness and excitement for the future,’ Deputy Premier Merlino said.

‘My kids are so excited that their Dad is retiring from politics. That’s all I need to know that this is the right decision for my family and for me. To my extended family, friends, dogs, chickens and alpacas – you’ll be seeing a lot more of me!’

Mr Foley said he wanted to focus on his ‘family and wellbeing’

‘The past two years have been a tough time for all Victorians. Many of us have come to reflect on what we aspire to achieve. I am no different,’ he said.

‘I am looking forward to contributing to a better, fairer, sustainable Victoria in a different capacity. One that allows me more time to focus on my family and wellbeing and different interests.’

Trade Minister Martin Pakula and Police Minister Lisa Neville will also step down.

Ms Neville returned to work in August 2021 after taking leave to recover from Crohn’s disease flare-ups, while Mr Pakula’s lower house seat of Keysborough is being scrapped as part of an electoral redistribution.

Ms Neville said her decision to retire was one of the hardest of her life and was made on advice from doctors.

‘My recovery in 2021 allowed me to resume work in late 2021, but I know I cannot give another four years,’ she said.

‘I wish it were otherwise, but I must be honest with myself, the wonderful people I work with and the Bellarine community.’

Sports Minister Martin Pakula (left) and Lisa Neville (right) are also expected to announce they to will both retire from politics in November

Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the ministers for their service, as his government seeks to secure a third straight term in office.

There were 22 Victorian Labor MPs sworn in to cabinet after the party’s dominant 2018 election win.

After the latest pre-election casualties as few as 10 will remain, including Mr Andrews, Tim Pallas, Jacinta Allan, Jaclyn Symes, Ben Carroll, Lily D’Ambrosio, Gabrielle Williams, Melissa Horne, Jaala Pulford and Gayle Tierney.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the exits were more of a revolt than a party renewal.

‘The only true renewal we’ll see is at the November election when Daniel Andrews is defeated,’ he told reporters.

When asked earlier in the week if Premier Dan Andrews expected to reshuffle his cabinet prior to the election, he said ‘we’ll wait and see how things go’