The Howard government’s Health Minister, Dr. Michael Wooldridge, 44, has announced that he will leave Parliament at this year’s election.
His retirement brings to 5 the number of ministers who have departed over the past year.
Citing the loneliness of political life and time away from home, and claiming he wished to spend more time with his family, Wooldridge said he wished to become a father to his young children.
In recent times, Wooldridge has been under attack over his handling of issues arising out of allegations that a Cabinet decision to allow medical rebates for MRI scanning was leaked to doctors prior to the public announcement in the Budget.