Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath has announced she’ll quit politics at the upcoming state election “to try and find more balance” in her life.
Since 2014, D’Ath has held the seat of Redcliffe. In a social media post on Thursday morning, she said her decision “has not been made lightly and comes with some sorrow but also excitement” about the journey ahead.
She’ll continue to serve through the election with the support of Premier Steven Miles, which eliminates the need for a byelection in Redcliffe.
“I have put my heart and soul into this job and will continue to do so up until the election,” she said in a video posted to Facebook.
“It’s such an important space that I do this. I stood so many days, so many hours, so many weeks, months, standing here everyday giving updates on Covid,” D’Ath said, referencing her time as health minister through the end of the pandemic, which was among the range of ministerial portfolios she held.
“And now I want to announce to you and say thank you for your support. I want to thank the premier for his support in wanting me to stay on in the ministry until the election.”
“There’s so much important work still to do and we have such a busy nine months still ahead of us, so I look forward to doing that. I look forward to supporting the next candidate for Redcliffe and seeing a Labor member for Redcliffe,” she said
Her announcement marks the 10-year anniversary of when she entered politics for the second time after winning the byelection in the seat of Redcliffe.
D’Ath also thanked former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for her friendship and support, noting that Palaszczuk’s recent resignation did not play a part in her decision to leave.
“My decision to not recontest is based on many considerations, but not least that it is time to try and find more balance in my life, to allow myself to look after me, after what will almost be 17 years of serving the people of Queensland,” she said.
She also believes it’s better to leave politics while people were still asking her to stay rather than telling her to go.
“I have many people to thank, which will come later, but at this time, I want to give particular thanks to my family,” she said.
“My son Cameron and daughter Emma, who were only four and six when I won federal preselection and are now 21 and 23.”
“I look forward to enjoying the opportunity to watch them make their own way in this world.”
Queensland’s next election will be held in October..