This week I informed the Premier that I would not be contesting the seat of Bendigo West in the 2026 election.

For some time, I have been contemplating a future away from the public eye and away from politics. A future which enables me to spend more time with friends and family.

It has been a challenging past year following the death of my husband Steve.

I have not taken this decision lightly and it has weighed on my mind for many months.

For the sake of my physical and mental health the time has come to step back.

It has been such a great honour and privilege to be the Member for Bendigo West for the past 16 years, and Speaker of the House for over 4 years in both the 59th and 60th Parliaments, and Deputy Speaker for over 5 years.

I cannot express how much I have loved and enjoyed participating and immersing myself in the communities I have represented.

From Bendigo to Baringhup, from Marong to Maldon, Golden Square to Guildford, Castlemaine to Eaglehawk, and all the amazing communities in between.

Understanding their diversity and giving my strong commitment and hard work every day to ensuring our regional towns are thriving and successful, and that the people who call it home are supported, advocated for, and respected always.

Bendigo West has seen the delivery of new schools like Castlemaine Secondary College and Kalianna Special School, and upgrades to every school in the electorate.

A new Bendigo Regional Hospital and new Rehabilitation Centre, our new Bendigo TAFE Centres of Excellence and free TAFE courses, our new Court House, the Gov Hub, and the Bendigo Tech School. And an expanded and redeveloped Bendigo Art Gallery.

I have advocated for and delivered returned TAFE courses to Castlemaine, creating more opportunities for jobs and the skills Victorian employers need.

Under-grounding of the power lines in Maldon, and streetscape works across Main St. Renewable Newstead and a solar farm for the community.

Reopening of Guildford Primary School.

A world class mountain bike track at Harcourt.

Monster Meeting site at Chewton now included in diggings heritage National Park.

Many sporting facility upgrades.

New Men’s sheds at Castlemaine, Newstead, and Marong.

Funding for the amazing Castlemaine Art Museum upgrades, and the Goods Shed refurbishment for our brilliant Castlemaine State Festival.

New CFA Stations at Walmer, Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square and Bendigo to come.

Intersection and safety upgrades in our growth corridors, like Maiden Gully.

My passion has and will continue to be supporting children with special needs. There is so much more that can be done to support them, their families, and carers. I am proud that every special school in Victoria is now being rebuilt or refurbished, and that out
of school care is now rolled out across the State for these kids and their families.

I am proud of the successive Labor Governments that have over the last 12 years, delivered these things. If it were not for the values of Labor Governments, its care for regional communities and the determination to tackle disadvantage in all its forms, I know my advocacy would have fallen on deaf ears.

I am also proud of the work that was done when I was Chair of the Parliamentary Committee that recommended change for children with Autism and to address abuse in disability services.

These recommendations and changes have made a real difference to the lives of many.

There are many battles I have stood with the community and won.

From opposing a broiler farm at Baringhup to opposing a development at Tarran Valley in the heritage environment around Maldon. Saving the Taradale Primary School from closure and fighting a pokies development in Castlemaine. And saving the Welshman’s Reef Caravan Park from closure.

I want to make a special mention and a shout out to the community of Harcourt. The fire that swept through the area in January was the worst we have seen in our region. Many homes were lost and many families were impacted.

I acknowledge and thank the people in the community, the many volunteers across many sectors who were instrumental in supporting the community through grief and loss. It was a privilege to stand with you. And a thank you to the CFA volunteers across Bendigo West and beyond whose efforts were heroic and swift not just on that day but in the days that followed.

I will continue to stand with communities who need their voices heard and advocate for them right up until the election.

As only the 4th woman to be Speaker in 170 years, and the only woman elected twice to the position I am proud to have delivered the first carers/parents rooms (Charlotte’s Room) at Parliament, overseen the completion of the redeveloped East Wing, new Committee Rooms, significant security upgrades, disability access upgrades, the first people’s room and acknowledgement of First People’s in our Vestibule, and the opening up our dining rooms and our parliament to more people.

I want to thank the Clerks and the Secretary of DPS for their unwavering support, guidance and professionalism. They are the custodians of the Parliament and our democracy.

Parliament is a unique workplace, and it has changed significantly since I was first elected.

Democracy is under direct threat unlike ever before.

Institutions like Parliament are the bastions that must continue to stand strong against any endeavours to wind back hard-fought democratic rights and freedoms.

It has been a pleasure as Speaker to observe Members in the Chamber and to get to know them on a different level.

I cannot say that I will miss the heated and often brutal exchanges and poor behaviour I have witnessed over many years. I will, however, miss the humoured banter and the zingy one liners.

The democratic process is only successful when there is respectful and constructive face to face debate, not debate that is driven by algorithms or social media sound bites and
misrepresentation.

I will remain Speaker until the Legislative Assembly sits for the first time after the election.

I hope young women and girls can see from what I have achieved over the last 16 years, that it is possible to be a leader in parliament, and in community.

I hope also that is a reminder that kindness and compassion are not weaknesses but leadership strengths that must be nurtured.

In a few weeks, my 13th Grandchild will be born.

I cannot thank my children, their partners and my grandchildren enough.

They are my greatest love, my world, and I am so looking forward to spending more time with them.

I want to thank my staff, Marty, Lela, Pam, Lynda and Tom (and those who have been on the journey in the past) for their unwavering support and friendship over many years. They are the hardworking people behind the scenes who have been there through bushfires, floods, Covid and trauma but who have also seen the good times as well – always supporting me, the Bendigo West communities and people, and the office of Speaker.

It is because of the support of my Labor Party family in Bendigo and Castlemaine, including my colleagues and friends Jacinta Allan and Lisa Chesters, that we have held and will continue to hold the seat of Bendigo West.

I thank them for their volunteer efforts, their generosity and their ongoing commitment to the values of the Labor party and the movement. To the comrades at Trades Hall thank you also for always having my back.

As we continue the fight against division and hatred across our communities, I will be standing firm until the election to defend what has been achieved by the Labor Government in Bendigo West, to continue to advocate for what the communities and people in Bendigo West tell me they need, and to ensure Labor is returned to Government in November.

As a proud local, born and raised in Central Victoria, and the first woman to be elected as the Member for Bendigo West, I will continue to fight the misrepresentation that regional communities have been left behind.

The evidence alone shows that to be a complete fabrication.

I wish to thank my colleagues, across party lines and to thank you for your friendship.
I say this to my Labor colleagues who are standing at the next election. It is vital for the future of Victoria and the communities that I love and have represented with passion, that you unite behind the Premier, Ben Carroll, and draw upon all your reserves of energy to win your seats. The political alternative to a Labor Government means cuts and chaos for community services, health and education, and it is a leap into the unknown.

I will bow out gracefully, knowing that the record investment by successive Labor governments in Bendigo West was because of strong advocacy, hard work and commitment, in partnership with people and communities.

Because I have always put community first.

After that if I’m not with my family, you will most likely find me on a bowling green somewhere in Central Victoria.