Health Minister Greg Hunt to ‘quit politics’ after 20 years and the Covid pandemic
- Health Minister Greg Hunt has been the MP for Flinders in Victoria since 2001
- He will reportedly announce intention to retire at next next election on Thursday
- 56-year-old Liberal MP Mr Hunt has been Health Minister since January 2017
Greg Hunt will quit politics at the election, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Liberal party figures told the newspaper that he will announce his intention to retire on Thursday, the last parliament sitting day of the year.
Mr Hunt, 56, has been the MP for Flinders in Victoria since 2001 and played a major role in the Federal Government’s response to Covid as Health Minister.
Greg Hunt will quit politics at the election, according to a report
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg did not confirm or deny the report but paid tribute to his ‘friend’ and fellow Victorian in a press conference on Wednesday morning.
‘Greg is my closest friend in this place. I am the godfather to his beautiful daughter Bobby and he is the godfather to my daughter Gemma,’ he said.
‘We are very dear friends and he has been an outstanding Health Minister through this crisis.
‘The fact that Australia has one of the lowest mortality rates in the world and the fact that we have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world is in due to no small part to the incredible work that all health professionals have done across Australia, and Greg as the Health Minister on this once in a century pandemic has been outstanding,’ Mr Frydenberg said.
Mr Hunt is expected to remain Health Minister until the election which is due by May 2022.
He holds Flinders on a margin of 5.64 per cent.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Hunt’s office for comment.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg paid tribute to his ‘friend’ Greg Hunt who is the godfather to his daughter Gemma (pictured in the Treasurer’s arms)
