Nationals’ deputy to step down

DEPUTY leader of the Nationals and Member for Euroa Steph Ryan has announced she will not be standing at November’s state election, citing family reasons.

“With a little one at home and another on the way, it is time for me to seek a job that offers greater flexibility,” she said.

“Serving my community as the first member for Euroa has been the honour of a lifetime. The greatest pleasure of this job has been the opportunity it has afforded me to meet every day people doing extraordinary things.”

Ms Ryan, 36, was elected to Victorian parliament in 2014 and became the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Nationals at a state or Federal level.

She said she believes Euroa “deserves someone who can devote 150 per cent of their time and energy to representing them.”

“In reality that means someone who can give freely of weeknights and weekends and that, at this stage in my life, is not compatible with my wish to be more present for my family,” she said.

“I leave my role firm in the belief that the Nationals are as important to country communities today as they were 100 years ago.”

Leader of the Nationals Peter Walsh said Ms Ryan was a “driving force for change” in regional Victoria, citing her roles as shadow minister for water, public transport and roads, and gaming and liquor regulation.

“Like so many of our regional leaders, Steph was motivated to step up to be a voice for change after witnessing the desperate neglect and inequity in decision-making on challenges that are facing rural people,” Mr Walsh said.

The state electoral district of Euroa includes much of the eastern second of the City of Greater Bendigo, including Heathcote.

At the 2018 election, Ms Ryan took over 65 per cent of the vote after preferences.