Former Coalition minister Alan Tudge has announced he’ll quit Parliament, triggering a byelection in a Victorian seat the Liberal Party holds by just 2.8%.
The opposition education spokesman and Aston MP, who has held a number of ministerial portfolios in the past, told Parliament on Thursday his resignation would be effective next week.
“I informed the prime minister and speaker of my decision earlier today, and the leader of the opposition has known of my likely intention since early January, when my decision was cemented following the passing of my father,” Tudge said.
“It’s not been an easy decision for me but it is necessary for my health and for my family, among other reasons. I certainly have not taken this decision lightly.”
There were immediate rumours ex-treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who lost the nearby seat of Kooyong at the last election, could stand in the byelection in Aston. But Frydenberg has reportedly ruled out a tilt.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley told the ABC that candidate selection would be a “matter for party divisions and branches” but added she would like to see a woman preselected.
Tudge said during his resignation speech his political career had taken a heavy toll on his family.
The 51-year-old said his teenage daughters had “known nothing other than their dad being away” and said his family had received death threats as recently as last week.
He went on to thank Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and other Liberals, before asking colleagues for a glass of water and taking a moment to collect himself as he appeared to fight back tears.
His resignation follows an appearance before the robodebt royal commission last week, where Tudge denied responsibility for the illegal scheme, despite serving as the minister for human services while it was ongoing.
Tudge was also confronted over his decisions during his time in that portfolio, including releasing the private information of welfare recipients to newspapers and running a media campaign to discredit critics.
Another royal commission witness and Tudge’s ex-media advisor, Rachelle Miller, whom he was previously in a relationship with, tweeted support for her former boss.
“Politics is brutal. I saw its impact on people, and I live with that impact still,” Miller wrote.
“I tried to support Alan through the most stressful of times. I hope he seeks the help he needs for his health, and more time with his family. I wish him peace.”
Dutton on Tudge: He’s a person of great integrity… Yeah, sure, bonks the staff and, while rightly worried about the safety of his own ch, cared nothing for the safety of welfare recipients. Can’t wait for the RC findings.
…children, …
In Qld Police’s Vice Squad back in the 1990’s, Tudgy’s integrity would have stood out.
Good. Another Robotdebt enabler gone. With the disgust factor in play I doubt he could have kept the seat anyway. The same could have happened to Frydenberg if he had stood in the by-election. My money is on another Teal.
I presume he’s resigning to spend more time with the Jailers………………..
The biggest Robodebt enabler of them all is now Secretary-General of the OECD – and we the taxpayers paid for all his RAAF flights to lobby for the gig.
Funny it’s all about “health” and “the family”.
No thought applied to the health of those under robodebt notices while as minister, and no thought of family while having an affair while as minister.
That all said, why did his electorate reelect him? Surely all was obvious at the election?
Some booths voted against the trend; also, a little bit of accidental gerrymandering might be at play. Fingers crossed on the next toss of the coin.
No apology in his resignation speech, no recognition of his past “mistakes”, no thanks to those who set things right, no offer to assist those damaged or dead? Does he still think Robodebt was OK?
According to Dutton this morning Tudge is ‘very popular in his electorate’. With a miniscule margin the facts don’t indicate that.
Here’s an opportunity for a teal candidate to step up & help consolidate the Independents’ influence in the House of Reps.
The man who leaked personal details of robotdebt victims to News Corp complains about death threats? Seriously, Ministers and their staffers shouldn’t even have access to those details
May the spirits of those who committed suicide over inhumane Robodebt demands haunt them all to the end of days. It is the least price that they can pay. Shame on them all.
Surely he has some faith in our local constabulary to keep him safe long enough to spend his supernation.
What Ms Millar forgot to add in her comments that she, along with Alan Tudge were enablers who used politics to contribute to the physical and mental distress of the victims of the illegal Robodebt policies of the Coalition. Both walk away from ‘politics’ with a generous tidy sum of money as compensation for their disgraceful efforts. Pity that the Robodebt victims were less generously treated.
Miller’s tidy sum was compensation for allegedly disgraceful treatment which she herself suffered while serving Tudge and Cash, many details of which have not been made known.
Indeed. “Politics is brutal” primarily for citizens affected by the cruel and brutal abuse of power wielded by brutes like Tudge and Millar. Good riddance to them both.