PETER Batchelor has ended his reign as Transport Minister after more than seven years.
The Thomastown MP acknowledged that some people might see his shift to the Energy and Victorian Communities portfolio as a demotion, but he had requested a portfolio change.
Mr Batchelor was only a few days short of being Victoria’s second-longest serving Transport Minister.
An often controversial Transport Minister, Mr Batchelor’s former portfolio is now separated into two departments: public transport, and roads and ports.
“It was a very demanding workload,” he said.
“The work in the previous Kennett Government in transport had been done by three ministers and I brought all that together.”
He said his highlight as Transport Minister had been rolling out the state’s fast-rail project.
