On 8 October 2009 Hansen announced that he would step down as a minister when Stoltenberg's reshuffled cabinet would be put together.

[1] As a minister he was both liked for his down to earth attitude, but also received much criticism for statements like “People on benefit must get up in the morning”.

Hanssen graduated from Namsos Upper Secondary School in 1981 and from Levanger Teacher College in 1985.

He worked within the psychiatric services before becoming administrative chief for Fosen municipality in 1989.

He held said post until he announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2009 and election and subsequently step down as minister.