Wade Noonan has advised me that he will be not be recontesting the seat of Williamstown at the 2018 election and that as of today, he also intends to step down as the Minister for Industry, Employment, and Resources.
Through a decade of public service, Wade has never lost sight of his Labor values. He has a deeply held belief in the profound role that Labor governments, and the labour movement, can have in changing lives for the better.
In his inaugural speech, Wade said he “wanted to do something of substance with my life. I wanted to make a contribution.”
For every day of the last ten years, he’s done exactly that.
Since 2014, Wade has served honourably and with distinction in the Cabinet, first as Minister for Police and Corrections, and more recently as Minister for Industry, Employment and Resources.
The closure of the auto industry has been one of the greatest challenges for the Victorian economy in recent times and Wade has worked tirelessly to manage the transition and ensure auto workers are supported to retrain and find new jobs.
Wade was also instrumental in delivering the nation’s first ever worker transfer scheme for power workers in the Latrobe Valley and worked hand in hand with local communities to deliver a legislated ban on fracking to protect our vital agriculture industry.
Because of Wade’s efforts for working people, more Victorians have found the security and dignity of a job, and more businesses and industries across Victoria have a secure future.
As Minister for Police and Corrections, Wade delivered on our commitment to employ 400 Police Custody Officers to get frontline police back on the beat and introduced stronger gun laws to crack down on illegal firearms.
I would also like to acknowledge Wade’s work in Opposition with paramedics and the families of those who lost loved ones during the ambulance crisis. His advocacy and empathy helped bring about vital changes to our health system which have saved many lives.
As a local member, Wade has been a powerful voice for the inner west. Because of his work, local schools like Bayside College and Newport Gardens have received much-needed upgrades, pollution issues in Brooklyn are finally being addressed and the home ground of his much loved Williamstown Seagulls has been restored.
I would like to thank Wade for his many years of service to our party, our parliament, and working people across Victoria. I wish him and his family the very best for the future.
Reviewed 19 August 2020