By Melissa Meehan
After nearly a decade as a member of federal parliament, local politician Kelly O’Dwyer wants to focus on family.
Earlier this year she announced she would not recontest the seat of Higgins at the next election, set to be held in May.
Ms O’Dwyer has been a member of Cabinet since 2015 and currently serves as Minister for Women, Jobs and Industrial Relations.
She has represented Higgins since 2009 and holds the seat on a margin of about 8 per cent, having fended off a challenge from the Greens at the last election.
“The reasons are complex and most compellingly, the decisive reasons are very personal,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
Her two children will reach primary school age during the course of the next parliament and after compiling photobooks and realising she missed many occasions she decided it was time to call stumps on her career as a politician.
“I no longer want to consistently miss out on seeing my children when they wake up in the morning or go to bed at night, and I want to know that when I am around, my time with them is not constantly disrupted,” she said.
“And it’s clear to me that they also want to spend more time with me as well.”
Another reason weighing heavily on her mind, and her decision is plans to grow their family.
“We need to be very realistic. I turn 42 years of age this year and everything would have to go right,” she said.
She admitted her decision did not mean that men or women need to choose between family and the public service – but it was the right decision for her.
She also thanked former party leaders Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop and current Prime Minister Scott Morrison for their support during her career that often balanced breastfeeding and public life.
She leaves highlighting some of her greatest achievements including securing a permanent home for Australia’s first children’s hospice in the heart of Higgins.
“Very Special Kids is one of Australia’s most important and impressive organisations, helping families care for profoundly ill children and being there to support them when the most awful thing happens and a child dies,” she said.
“I’m profoundly grateful for their work and their compassion.”
Less than one quarter of Government MPs are women, while nearly half of all Federal ALP MPs are women.
The Liberal Party has a goal for women to make up half of its party room by 2025.
