Small Business Minister Mark Arbib steps down

Just two months since accepting the job as Small Business Minister, Senator Mark Arbib has resigned from parliament, meaning Labor will shortly have its fourth small business minister since winning office since 2007.

Adding another twist to an already dramatic day for the Labor party, the New South Wales right-winger said the decision was driven to help heal the party and to honour a commitment to his wife to reassess his career at the age of 40.

“I have always been loyal to the Labor Party, the party I love,” Arbib said, stressing the decision to stand down was his alone.

Dubbed a “faceless man” for his role in the overthrow of Kevin Rudd, Arbib said his decision follows a very difficult time for Labor, and led to an emotional conversation with his friend, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, this afternoon. Gillard today won the ALP leadership vote against Rudd 71 to 31.

Arbib was appointed Small Business Minister in December, following Nick Sherry’s decision to step down from the role and not contest the next election. He also served as Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Sport and Manager of Government Business in the Senate.

In his first interview as Small Business Minister, Arbib told SmartCompany last month that once he got to grips with the portfolio, he would “knock down doors to make [things] happen.” He nominated rents, payroll tax and reducing red-tape as key issues for small business.

It is not yet known who will replace Arbib in the Senate or as Small Business Minister.

Responding to the news, shadow small business minister Bruce Billson noted that Arbib did not mention the words small business in his resignation speech.

“No wonder the small business communtiy is demoralised by this divided and dysfunctional Gillard Labor Government,” he said.

“It is well past time for Labor to follow the Coalition lead and appoint a Cabinet-level small business minister with the genuine drive and passion to support our struggling small business community.”