April 23rd, 2026Mary-Anne Thomas calls it quits for 2026
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas will quit politics at the forthcoming 2026 state election.
In a statement, Ms Thomas said representing the people of Macedon and serving as cabinet minister had been an incredible privilege.
“When Dan Andrews asked me to take on the health portfolio our health system was experiencing unprecedented challenges as a result of the Covid pandemic. I knew it would be hard. What I didn’t fully appreciate was how incredibly rewarding it would be.
“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. It has been a privilege to work with you.”
Ms Thomas said women’s rights were under attack from conservative political forces around the world.
“That’s why as Minister for Health, and more recently as Minister for Women, it has been an honour to deliver significant reforms to make Victoria better.”
They included establishing 20 women’s health clinics, a virtual, mobile and dedicated Aboriginal women’s health clinic, public fertility care, Urgent Care Clinics, and a virtual hospital.
Ms Thomas said other highlights included reforming Victoria’s nation-leading Voluntary Assisted Dying laws to ensure they kept pace with changes in other states and territories, as well as landmark legislation to protect children born with variations in their sex characteristics.
Ms Thomas, who also took on the role of Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development through Covid, said the electorate of Macedon was made up of small towns and tight-knit communities who were passionate about sport, great education and good secure jobs for their children, as well as protecting the unique features of the region.
“As local member, our government has delivered multimillion dollar redevelopments of each of our secondary schools, two brand new primary schools, and countless upgrades to schools right across the region.
“The Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct is the largest infrastructure project ever delivered in the Macedon Ranges and was made possible by state and federal governments backing in our local communities. It complements the many new and upgraded sports facilities, playgrounds, parks and skate parks across Macedon.”
Ms Thomas said the decision to leave politics had been tough.
“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. I realise that I can’t make that same commitment for another four years.”
Premier Jacinta Allan said Ms Thomas took on the health portfolio during a one-in-100-year pandemic “and has achieved so much for our public health system, always backing our dedicated and hard-working workforce”.
“As the Member for Macedon since 2014 she leaves government having made this state a better place.”
During her political career Ms Thomas has been: Minister for Health June 2022 – April 2026; Minister for Ambulance Services October 2023 – April 2026; Minister for Women December 2025 – April 2026; Minister for Health Infrastructure December 2022 – December 2024; Minister for Medical Research December 2022 – October 2023; Minister for Ambulance Services June 2022 – December 2022; Minister for Agriculture December 2020 – June 2022; and Minister for Regional Development December 2020 – June 2022.
Before her election to parliament, Ms Thomas was a teacher, unionist, and a public, private and non-government organisation sector executive.
Ms Thomas’s move to Macedon in 2014 was not without controversy.
In February that year, a petition calling for her removal was signed by more than 85 per cent of ALP members in the electorate.
The petition came after Ms Thomas’s preselection ahead of former federal MP and Trentham resident Christian Zahra, who received 81 per cent of votes taken in a local ballot.
In the 2014 election, Ms Thomas received 14,677 votes (38.67%) behind the Liberal Party’s Donna Petrovich who received 16,376 votes (43.15%). After the distribution of preferences Ms Thomas had 20,417 votes (53.79%) ahead of Ms Petrovich’s 17,538 votes (46.21%)
Above, retiring Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas
Words: Kyle Barnes & Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed
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