Mark Arbib resigns as minister and senator

Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib has today announced his resignation from the Senate and as Assistant Treasurer, Small Business and Sports Minister, citing personal reasons and wanting to spend more time with his family as a motive for his decision.

"Most Australians think politicians spend half their life in Canberra and the other half on holidays," he said. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

He said he wanted to give the party a chance to heal from the ructions caused by the leadership turmoil which has spilled over in the past week.

Arbib made his name as a machine man in the NSW Labor Right, which spawned powerbrokers Graham Richardson, John Ducker, Joe Tripodi and Eddie Obeid, and which has run NSW for decades.

He was ALP State Secretary of the NSW branch before being elected to the Senate in 2007 and was named No. 3 on The Power Index's Political Fixers power list last year.

"I don't think it's a secret, I have been a faction leader. I have made tough and difficult decisions," said Arbib. 

"Leadership ballots in all parties are difficult, complex and emotional events. They leave scars. These scars can fade over time."

Under his role as Sports Minister he was also named No. 10 on our Sport power list as the man leading the policy charge against gambling, doping and match fixing.