This is the email Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky sent to caucus colleagues at 11am today, announcing she had quit politics:
From: Lynne Kosky [mailto:Lynne.Kosky@minister.vic.gov.au]
Sent: Monday, 18 January 2010 11:07 AM
To: Caucus – ALL
Subject: Message from Lynne KoskyDear Caucus Members,
As some of you know, there have been significant health issues in my family over several months. During this time, I have tried to manage my responsibilities to my family whilst providing the proper attention to my demanding role as Minister for Public Transport and the Arts. However, the needs of my family have often come second, and I have come to the conclusion that it is not possible for me to fulfil both responsibilities properly.
I have therefore tendered my resignation as both a Minister and Member of Parliament to the Premier.
The decision I have come to is not made lightly and is something I have agonised over for some time. It is however, the right decision and I leave with sadness, but with no regrets. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a Member of the Victorian Parliament and as a member of 3 cabinets that have made an enormous contribution to improving the lives of so many Victorians. I am immensely proud to have served as a Minister in the Bracks and Brumby Governments, having worked under 2 Premiers whom I greatly respect and can also call friends and mentors. I thank them both for the trust they have shown in me.
I have also had the privilege to work along side cabinet and caucus colleagues who are incredibly hard working, professional and compassionate.
I want to thank you for the support you have always given me, but particularly over the past few months. A more dedicated team would be
hard to find.I feel very privileged to have overseen some significant change in my portfolios in the time I have been Minister and I have been very fortunate to do this with a fantastic team in my ministerial and electorate offices along with many great public servants and stakeholders.
I particularly wish to thank the Premier for his leadership of our Government and his unconditional support of me in carrying out my Ministerial duties.
John’s vision and compassion for Victorians is clear for all to see. I thank you all for your support, friendship and encouragement – together we have achieved great outcomes. I wish you all the best for the busy year ahead culminating in a successful outcome.
Yours sincerely
Lynne Kosky
Nobody’s buying the ‘family reasons’ spin.
The over-priced myki mouse ‘card’ system must be headed for a special kind of consumer hell if the buck stopper falls on her sword at this juncture.
Which poor sap in #1 Spring Street has a big enough bucket to clean up this steaming pile?
MPM the family reasons are probably quite real on the basis that its significant health and that’s more information than generic family reasons.
That email reads like she knew it would be leaked to somewhere like Crikey. There’s too much extra information/detail provided on 3 cabinets. I’m also not sure that “John’s vision and compassion for Victorians” is clear to see. Reads like a press release to me. I’m not making a criticism since it as expected its public already so making sure the spelling, punctuation and prose are perfect was a smart move.
Regardless Public Transport has always and will always be a poison chalice.
Spin 🙂
At least very likely to be.
A great loss to politics and the State. In over thirty years of public service I encountered few more dedicated and genuine politicians.
Tom/Wodonga
$1.35 billion dollar Myki fiasco? That’s enough to give anyone “significant health issues”…not least Malbun’s commuters.
The Brumby Govt. reeks of Blair. Spin, evasion and language that would make Don Watson write another book…