Bold claim: A decade-long career in Parliament ends as ACT’s chief of staff steps away, signaling both a personal crossroads and potential shifts for the party.
The ACT Party announced that its chief of staff, Andrew Ketels, has resigned after more than twelve years in Parliament, including five years in the chief of staff role. Ketels shared his decision in a LinkedIn post, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to work across multiple ministries and noting his pride in ACT’s progress over the past eight years.
Ketels reflected on his journey: 12 years in Parliament, serving five ministers, and five years as chief of staff to ACT. He described Parliament as a unique place but said he’s looking forward to dedicating more time to his two sons. He added that he is extremely proud of the party’s transformation—from a team barely making 6pm news and polling below 1% to a caucus of 11 MPs and a seat at the Cabinet table. Ketels intends to complete his duties this month and pursue his next challenge.
Before joining David Seymour’s office in 2017, Ketels worked for National MPs Louise Upston and Maggie Barry, marking a career deeply rooted in party politics across several factions.
This isn’t the first resignation at the party level this year. The Greens also saw their chief of staff, Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield, step down in September. The Greens subsequently appointed former Green MP Kevin Hague to the role last month.
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Question for readers: How might Ketels’ departure influence ACT’s strategy and visibility in the coming months, and what challenges could arise from leadership changes within major parties?
