In a statement issued on Sunday,Pesutto announced the departure and said the pair had only ever agreed to do the jobs on the basis “that it would be for a period of 12 months to help set up my office”.
“A year on,both Rodrigo and Nick have indicated they now want to return to the private sector. They will depart with my deep gratitude and best wishes and both have agreed to assist with a handover to their replacements.
“Both of them put aside successful careers in the private sector and have carried out their roles in a highly professional and respected manner that has enabled us to build the profile of the new team and take up the attack to Labor to put us in the best position to win the 2026 election.”
The Age spoke to several MPs and members of Pesutto’s staff who debated the opposition leader’s interpretation of the departure. Sources close to the two former staff toldThe Age that the two men had become fed up with divisions within the party room and criticism levelled at the office.
“In recent weeks it became clear it just wasn’t workable going forward,” one source said.
The high-profile departures come amid mounting pressure on Pesutto’s leadership,with a challenge seen by a growing number of MPs as likely before the end of the year,if not sooner.