- Matt Kean will pursue a corporate career
Former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has announced his resignation from state parliament, ending his 13 years as Member for Hornsby.
Kean denied rumors that he was leaning toward federal politics, saying he would pursue opportunities in the private sector.
The Liberal MP made the announcement with his wife Wendy and four-year-old son Tom at a quick press conference on Tuesday afternoon, just hours after Labor Treasurer Daniel Mookhey approved his second NSW state budget.
Despite his big news, he did not miss the opportunity to analyze the government’s efforts.
“Thank you for coming and I’m sorry to keep you from the worst NSW budget in modern history, but I have another announcement to make,” he began.
“Today, after 13 years as Member for Hornsby, I will be retiring from parliament.”
Matt Kean hugs his son Tom after his surprising resignation from politics
Kean said he had made the decision over the weekend and denied timing the announcement to detract from the budget.
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time and over the weekend I made a decision,” he said.
“This is the last week of sittings before the winter break and I have no intention of returning to Parliament for the August sittings.”
His announcement was attended by several Liberal MPs, including Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, Felicity Wilson, Eleni Petinos and NSW Liberal state director Richard Shields.
While he said he had not confirmed a new role, he said he intended to play a role in the “energy and climate-related space.”
‘I am passionate about energy and I am passionate about the transition (towards renewable energy). This transition is inevitable,’ he stated.
“I have had an impact when it comes to public policy and I want to have an impact by ensuring that not only energy users benefit from this transition, but also our economy and our environment.”
The veteran Hornsby MP (pictured with his family) ruled out a tilt towards federal politics.
Under the previous Perrottet government, Kean served as energy minister, treasurer and deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party until the Liberals lost the state election in March last year.
His resignation will trigger a by-election in the north-west Sydney seat.
While Hornsby has been in the hands of the Liberal Party since its creation in 1950, Labor had an 8.8 per cent lead against Kean in the last election.
His resignation comes amid growing speculation about the departure of former Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet, who occupies the nearby seat of Epping.
However, when asked, Kean refused to offer his choice of successor, saying it was “a Liberal Party matter”.
‘By-elections are not something new in public life. “This won’t be the first by-election, and it certainly won’t be the last by-election, that’s the New South Wales political process,” he said.