STATEMENT FROM TIM HAMMOND, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PERTH

It has been a privilege beyond measure to be part of Bill Shorten’s team, and even more of a privilege to serve as a Shadow Minister under his leadership.

 

And I am very confident that Bill will be our next Prime Minister, leading a united Federal Labor Government, with a record number of new Members of Parliament from Western Australia.

 

However, for reasons I would like to explain today, I will not be part of Bill Shorten’s Government and will be resigning as the Federal Member for Perth. There are, of course, obligations I need to discharge to my electorate, to my staff and to the people of Perth. I expect this will take a relatively short period of time, enabling me to resign in the very near future.

 

I realise this is very unexpected news. But as much as I have tried desperately, I just cannot reconcile my life as a Federal Member of Parliament with being the father I need - and want - to be to my three children, whom are six years, two and a half years and seven months old.

 

This is a decision that I have privately agonised over for many months and reflected most deeply upon. It is not taken lightly.

 

In making such an announcement, I also say sorry to all of you who have supported me and placed their faith in me. To those I have disappointed, whilst I apologise, I would also like to say thank you.

 

Thank you to those in my electorate who took a chance, gave me your support and elected me so that I would serve you as your Federal Representative.

 

Thank you to all of those hundreds of Labor Party members and volunteers who worked so incredibly hard to get me elected.

 

Thank you to the community groups, trade unions and small businesses of Perth who supported me and my vision for our electorate.

 

Thank you to my Labor colleagues and friends who are part of the movement, all of whom have invested so much in me. To each one of you, I truly hope you understand that I would not have taken this step unless I knew beyond all certainty that I had tried everything to make this work.

 

What I know is that Bill Shorten is on track to be Australia’s next Prime Minister and Labor is on track to be in Government, for all the right reasons.

 

And I’m proud of what our Federal Labor team has achieved under Bill Shorten’s leadership – even while in opposition.

 

But even from opposition, life between Parliamentary, portfolio and local community obligations has meant being away from home even more than I had anticipated.

 

The reality is that I thought I had an appreciation of how to manage my duties as a Federal Member of Parliament in a way that did not have such an impact on my family.

 

I got that wrong. I just did not anticipate the profound effect my absence would have on all of us.

 

As a direct result of me being away from home, the strength of the relationships that I have built with my children have suffered in a way that is simply unsustainable for us as a family, and me as a Dad.

 

I am not saying that the life of a Western Australian Federal Member of Parliament is unmanageable. Many of my colleagues make it work. But it is time to be brutally honest and admit that I am not one of them.

 

My wife Lindsay and I have tried incredibly hard to make this work. As well having relied upon support from family, friends and colleagues, I have actively sought out professional advice and assistance to try and preserve our family unit in a way that I felt confident would not suffer from my absence.

 

But my time from home simply means that the strength of my relationships with my daughters and my son has been compromised. That is something that I promised to myself would never happen.  And because of that, I feel that the only viable option for me is to resign from my role as a Federal Member of Parliament and be the best Dad that I can possibly be to my kids.

 

So I take this final opportunity to thank Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek for their leadership and personal support.

 

And to thank my incredibly hard working and loyal staff – Helen, Laurence, Hope, Gareth and Emma.

 

Thank you to my State and Federal colleagues. 

 

I would also like to thank our extended family and our friends for working so hard to help me try to make this work. I’m sorry that I couldn’t.

 

And thank you both to the Labor Party and to all of those who gave me the rare and privileged opportunity to serve in our Federal Parliament. 

 

I regret – so very much - that a by-election will be an inconvenience for my local community. However I know Labor will present a strong candidate to continue representing Perth – fighting for good jobs, better schools and hospitals, and a fair share for WA.

 

I wish Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek and their wonderful Labor team every success.