October brought the resignation of Ms Hennessy's successor in the health portfolio,Jenny Mikakos,as the official inquiry into the hotel quarantine debacle plunged the government into serious crisis.
Ms Hennessy said on Wednesday that she had made her decision with the help of Mr Andrews.
"We have discussed this for some time,"she said."He has demonstrated his support for colleagues through various stages of their life journeys before and I am particularly grateful to him for his wise counsel,compassion and understanding about my decision."
Soon after Ms Hennessy's announcement,Mr Andrews issued a statement of his own praising his colleague's performance in the ministry.
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"Our cabinet has been stronger,and our state made fairer by her outstanding contribution,"the Premier's statement read.
"I know Jill will bring that same intellect and energy as she continues to represent the people of Altona and I am pleased that she has indicated she intends to stand again at the 2022 state election."
Ms Hennessy said she had been discussing her future with Mr Andrews for some time before deciding to resign.
"Political life can be hard on families,"she said.
"Mine is at a stage where they need more of me and even more importantly,I need more of them.
"Like everyone,managing the collision between work and family life,sometimes something has to give,at least for a little while."
During Ms Hennessy's time as health minister,Victoria became the first Australian state to pass assisted dying laws.
The bill was one of the most contentious pieces of legislaton in the Parliament's history and split the Labor Party,with Deputy Premier James Merlino and his factional allies opposing the bill. It passed after an emotional 24-hour debate in Parliament.
Ms Hennessy said the time was right to step down from the Attorney-General's role having overseen the Gobbo Royal Commission,legislative reforms to decriminalise public drunkenness,the spent convictions scheme and the legislation banning gay conversion therapy.
Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said on Wednesday that ministers resigning or being sacked was no help to Victorians as they tried to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
"Jill Hennessy is the sixth Labor minister to resign or be sacked this year,"the Liberal leader said.
"With Victoria facing a jobs and budget crisis,Labor’s ministerial musical chairs won’t help the economic recovery."