By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
MEMBER for Gippsland East Tim Bull will not contest November’s state election.
Mr Bull announced last week he will be drawing an end to his 16-year political career at the election.
“It has been an incredible honour, and a significant chapter of my life, to represent the people of this region over the past 16 years, including 13 years serving on the front bench as a minister and shadow minister,” Mr Bull said in a statement.
“Over the coming months leading up to the election, I will continue to represent the people of East Gippsland to the very best of my ability.
“My family and close friends – who have been a tremendous source of support – have known since the last election that this would likely be my final term. I have taken the time to ensure there were no second thoughts, and there are none.”
The former newspaper editor was elected to parliament at the 2010 state election, ending independent Craig Ingram’s 11-year hold on the seat of Gippsland East.
In the final year of the Denis Napthine-led Liberal-National government, Mr Bull held the local government and Aboriginal affairs ministries.
Currently, Mr Bull holds three shadow ministries: disability, ageing, carers and volunteers; racing, and veterans’ affairs.
At the 2022 election, Mr Bull was re-elected after recieving 63.3 per cent of the primary vote, and a two-candidate preferred result of 74.6 per cent, an increase of seven percentage points from the previous election.
Mr Bull acknowledged the staff he has worked alongside during his time in public office.
“My thanks also go to Peter Ryan, Peter Walsh and Danny O’Brien – the three National Party leaders I have served under – whose support and friendship I greatly value, along with that of my parliamentary colleagues past and present,” he said.
“East Gippsland is a wonderful place to live and work. While the region faces its share of challenging times through fires, floods and storms, those moments have always highlighted the very best of our community, with people coming together to support one another.
“It’s a privilege to represent such a resilient and caring region.
“Politics is an arena where people will often hold very different views, and I understand not everyone agrees with all positions taken – that is simply the nature of public life. However, I have always tried to make decisions based on what I genuinely believed was in the best interests of the community.
“As I step back from public life later this year, there are other interests and opportunities I look forward to pursuing – things that have been difficult to find time for while serving in parliament. What lies ahead remains very much an open book, but I will continue to enjoy living in East Gippsland and being part of this community for many years to come.”
Mr Bull’s retirement leaves the National Party searching for a new candidate to retain Gippsland East.
It also opens the door for the Liberal Party to field a candidate. The Coalition parties generally don’t run against each other in an electorate in which one has a sitting MP re-contesting.
Labor, the Greens and One Nation will also throw their hat into the ring.
The Gippsland East electorate takes in nearly all of East Gippsland Shire, as well as the northern part of the Wellington Shire, including Maffra, Heyfield, Stratford, Licola and Dargo.
