Mary Anne Thomas the member for Macedon has resigned from her ministerial responsibilities and announced that she will not contest the seat of Macedon at the forthcoming 2026 State Election.
Ms Thomas was elected to the seat of Macedon in 2014 succeeding Joanne Duncan. She was re elected in 2018 and 2022. She has been a parliamentary secretary for health and carers and subsequently a cabinet minister and Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.
Her parliamentary career ias been characterized by a steady progression from backbencher to senior cabinet minister.
While Minister for Health she has overseen significant contributions to women’s health, including the establishment of 20 women’s health clinics and a virtual, mobile and dedicated Aboriginal women’s health clinic. While she was Minister she strengthened fertility care, put an emphasis on the management of pain for women and expanded aces to contraception and abortion care.
Other initiatives included the reorganisation of health services, the introduction of expanded care by chemists, particularly for urinary tract infections and a range of measures to strengthen and expand health services.
Ms Thomas’ resignation coincides with resignations by other long serving Ministers Gayle Tierney and Danny Pearson and the earlier resignation of Natalie Hutchins in December last year.
These vacancies will be filled this week. This provides the Premier, Jacinta Allen, with an opportunity for reorganisation and renewal of her cabinet in preparation for the November State election. She is expected to announce new ministerial responsibilities in the coming week.
