Health Minister resigns

HEALTH Minister Jim Perchard has resigned.

The under-fire minister, who was facing a vote of no confidence, has written to the Bailiff to tender his resignation.

In a brief letter, copied to the media this morning, Senator Perchard said he was stepping down ‘with great sadness’ and apologised to the staff at the Health and Social Services Department.

Senator Perchard (pictured) has been in office since December, but has been under increasing pressure since a row with Senator Stuart Syvret in the States Chamber in which he apparently told him to ‘go and top himself’.