Victorian Health Minister steps down as Premier unveils new cabinet

Victoria’s political landscape has undergone a major shake‑up this week, with Premier Jacinta Allan unveiling a new cabinet on Wednesday following the sudden resignation of three senior ministers — including Health Minister Mary‑Anne Thomas.

Ms Thomas, along with Finance Minister Danny Pearson and Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney, announced on Monday they would step down from their portfolios immediately and retire from Parliament at the November election. Their exits triggered a rapid reshuffle just seven months out from polling day.

Appointed during the height of the Covid‑19 pandemic, Ms Thomas has been one of the government’s most visible and influential ministers, overseeing major reforms and frontline system pressures.

In a detailed statement, Ms Thomas said serving as Health Minister had been “incredibly rewarding”, paying tribute to the state’s clinicians, nurses, paramedics and allied health workers.

“Every visit to a health service confirms that our healthcare workers, with their unparalleled skill, commitment and compassion, are the beating heart of our world‑class system,” she said.

“It has been a privilege to work with you.”

Ms Thomas highlighted a long list of reforms delivered during her tenure, including the establishment of Urgent Care Clinics, the Virtual ED, Victoria’s first Virtual Hospital, higher nurse‑to‑patient ratios, and the creation of Local Health Service Networks to improve integration across the system. She also pointed to major women’s health reforms, public fertility care, expanded access to contraception and abortion services, and the state’s record surgical activity.

She was stepping down to prioritise family, and acknowledged she could not commit to another four‑year term with the same intensity.

“I have worked all my life for a better, fairer and more equal world, and my approach has always been to leave nothing in the tank,” she said.

Premier Allan paid tribute to Minister Thomas’ leadership, noting that she had “achieved so much for our public health system, always backing our dedicated and hard‑working workforce”.

Harriet Shing takes over health portfolio

In Wednesday’s reshuffle, the Premier appointed Harriet Shing as the new Minister for Health, Ambulance Services and Water. Ms Shing moves from the Suburban Rail Loop portfolio and will now be responsible for steering the health system through ongoing workforce pressures, demand challenges and cost‑of‑living impacts on patients.

The Premier said Minister Shing would “bring new ideas to public health” and continue the government’s work to make care “easier and cheaper for busy families to access”.

The appointment comes as the government emphasises stability and continuity in health, with the Premier repeatedly highlighting the sector as a core priority heading into the election.

A week of upheaval and renewal

Monday’s resignations echoed the 2022 pre‑election period, when four senior ministers departed months before the vote. This week’s departures leave Premier Allan without several long‑time allies, including Ms Thomas, who also served as Leader of the House.

In statements released Monday and Wednesday, the Premier thanked the outgoing ministers for their “indelible mark” on the state and said the new cabinet reflected “a unity of purpose” focused on cost‑of‑living relief, health, education and jobs.

The reshuffle also elevated several MPs, including Luba Grigorovitch as Minister for Youth and for Carers and Volunteers, and Paul Edbrooke as Minister for Cost of Living and the state’s first Minister for Renters.