Stephen Jones to leave parliament

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones is set to leave politics in a fourth departure from the Albanese government as it heads to the federal election, surprising colleagues with the news before parliament resumes next week. Jones, a senior member of the Labor Left and a longstanding supporter of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, confirmed his resignation in a statement on Thursday morning but gave no reason for his departure. The announcement comes as Jones seeks support in parliament for changes to superannuation and a new regime to crack down on financial scams while also heading into the federal budget scheduled for March 25.

“I want to express my immense gratitude to my community for the faith and trust they have placed in me to be their representative since 2010,” Jones said in the statement, published at 9.30am. “I want to thank the prime minister for his friendship and support over many decades and for the trust he has placed in me to be the assistant treasurer and minister for financial services”.



“To my family and friends, whose love and support has enabled me to represent our great community with the dedication it deserves, I thank you wholeheartedly.​” Colleagues earlier suggested Jones’ resignation appeared to be due to personal factors, including his marriage last year to a long-term friend, leading him to choose a life outside politics. Jones worked as the national secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union from 1993 and rose to become its national secretary for five years until 2010, when he entered parliament.

He holds the NSW seat of Whitlam, which covers parts of the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, which he won with 60.1 per cent of the vote in two-party terms at the last election. Former Indigenous Australians minister Linda Burney and former skills minister Brendan O’Connor left the cabinet last July but have remained in parliament on the backbench until the election, allowing for a smooth transition to replace them in the ministry and find Labor candidates for their seats.

Former government services minister Bill Shorten said last September he would leave government and took up a new post as vice chancellor of the University of Canberra this month. He has left parliament, and his seat will be filled at the general election, avoiding the need for a byelection..