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Retiring Ellis pregnant, husband reveals on radio

Just days after Kate Ellis announced she would quit politics to spend more time with her young son, her husband David Penberthy has revealed she is pregnant with their second child.

Mar 15, 2017, updated Mar 15, 2017
Kate Ellis, with her son Samuel and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, after fronting media over her resignation last week. Photo: Tim Dornin / AAP

Kate Ellis, with her son Samuel and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, after fronting media over her resignation last week. Photo: Tim Dornin / AAP

Penberthy, a FIVEaa announcer and News Corp columnist, made the revelation on his breakfast radio shift, during a casual exchange with his co-host Will Goodings.

“Did I tell you Kate’s pregnant? I told you that, didn’t I?” Penberthy said on air.

After it emerged the announcement was news to his interlocutor, Goodings noted the former Sunday Mail editor had also just broken the news to “all of South Australia”.

“Well, I suppose there are other people listening to this conversation,” Penberthy quipped, before confirming Ellis “had the final ‘everything’s-good-to-go’ test yesterday”.

Ellis later told Fairfax Media the pair were “happy and excited” to welcome their son Samuel’s sibling later this year, but insisted the news played no role in her decision to retire, which she announced last week.

“I was really honest last week about things,” she said today.

“Whether or not I was pregnant with this child made no impact on that decision.”

Congrats to @KateEllisMP (and @penbo) who are expecting their second child together!

— David & Will (@FIVEaaBreakfast) March 14, 2017

The 39-year-old stunned the political world when she announced she would stand down from Bill Shorten’s Opposition frontbench before retiring as the federal member for Adelaide at the next election.

She cited her desire to care for Samuel, who would be starting school in the next term of parliament.

“The simple truth is that I just cannot bear the thought of spending at least 20 weeks of every year in Canberra away from him and the rest of my family,” she said at the time.

“When I think about having to regularly miss things like his first day at school, his presentations at school assembly, a first sporting match or even just being there for him when he is sick and wants his mum, I know that it would make me absolutely miserable”.


The decision sparked renewed debate about the compatibility of political and family life, but Ellis insisted: “I’d hate for my legacy to be sending a message that you can’t be a woman and go into federal parliament.”

“I’ve worked alongside countless colleagues who are great parents and great members of parliament… ultimately this is about what works for me,” she said.

“It’s not a reflection on the way it has to be for all women and all parents.”

Penberthy also has two older children from a previous marriage.

Topics: Kate Ellis
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