Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross has announced that he will be taking a few months away from Parliament for health reasons.
Ross, who is also the National Transport and Infrastructure spokesperson, will be taking medical leave from today and doesn’t expect to be back in Parliament for some time.
“Recently I have been dealing with some personal health issues,” he says.
“There are times in life where you have to put your own health and family first. As a husband and a father I need to do that at this time.”
Ross has also requested that his Transport and Infrastructure portfolios be reallocated and that he step back from his front bench role.
He says he looks forward to returning to Parliament in the future to re-join Caucus.
National Party leader Simon Bridges says he is supportive of Ross’ request for time away from Parliament to deal with some personal health issues.
“Jami-Lee will be stepping back from his portfolio responsibilities and from the Opposition front bench,” he says.
“His Transport portfolio will be picked up by Paul Goldsmith and his Infrastructure responsibilities by Judith Collins. Paul Goldsmith’s Revenue portfolio will be picked up by Andrew Bayly.”
Bridges confirmed this decision is unrelated to an ongoing leak investigation into who leaked Bridges’ travel expenses to the media.