Senior government minister Richard Wynne.Credit:Simon Schluter
Mr Wynne has held the seat of Richmond – which also covers Abbotsford,Collingwood,Fitzroy and Clifton Hill – since 1999 and his exit will pave the way for an intense campaign that could see Labor lose its grip on the seat.
Although Labor has long been under threat from the Greens in Richmond,Mr Wynne extended his majority in the seat at the 2018 state election.
Mr Wynne made the announcement on Thursday,a day after former attorney-generalJill Hennessy confirmed she would not contest next year’s election. Yan Yean MP Danielle Green and Ringwood MP Dustin Halse also confirmed they would stand aside in 12 months’ time.
Before his move to the Victorian Parliament,Mr Wynne served as Melbourne’s lord mayor in 1990 and 1991 and was previously an advisor to former deputy prime minister Brian Howe.
“Public life is a privilege - and I have been privileged threefold,” Mr Wynne said.
“And I have been privileged to serve the people of Abbotsford,Burnley,Clifton Hill,Collingwood,Cremorne,Fitzroy,Fitzroy North and Richmond as the member for Richmond.