Vaucluse Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton to quit politics ahead of next election

NSW Liberal MP Gabrielle Upton, the state’s first female attorney-general, has announced she will quit politics at next year’s election.

The former environment minister and attorney-general, who is now parliamentary secretary to the premier, released a statement on Wednesday morning confirming she would not recontest her seat of Vaucluse at the March 2023 election.

State MP Gabrielle Upton.Credit: Renee Nowytarger

“I know in my heart that this is the right time to retire. It is the time for someone else to take my place and for me to do something new,” she said.

Upton was first elected to parliament in 2011 as the member for Vaucluse, a safe Liberal seat in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“As the state’s first female attorney-general I am thankful to have led reforms to support child victims in child sexual assault proceedings and as environment minister to have introduced the Return and Earn container deposit litter reduction scheme,” she said.

The Liberals hold Vaucluse with a 19 per cent margin and a pre-selection for the blue ribbon seat is expected to be hotly contested. Teacher and author Daisy Turnbull, the daughter of former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been raised as a possible candidate by several party members.

The state seat overlaps with the federal electorate of Wentworth, which was wrestled from the Liberal Party by teal independent Allegra Spender at the 2022 election.

The strongest support for the Liberals in the federal contest appeared to come from the northern section of the electorate, where the state seat of Vaucluse sits.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet thanked Upton in a statement for her “outstanding work and significant contributions” to her constituents, the people of NSW and the NSW Liberal Party.

“As Attorney General, Gabrielle led reforms to support child victims of sexual assault and as Environment Minister was responsible for launching Return and Earn, one of the state’s largest environmental protection initiatives to reduce rubbish on our streets, beaches and parklands,” the premier said.

“As the Member for Vaucluse, she has overseen upgrades to her local public transport network, ferry wharves, parks, cycleways, schools and hospitals and launched ground-breaking initiatives to better protect the natural environment and heritage.”

Upton’s full statement

I have made the exceptionally difficult decision not to recontest the Seat of Vaucluse at the next State election in March 2023.

I have had almost twelve amazing years representing my local area as their MP, serving as a Minister in the Liberal Coalition Government across four portfolios and as Parliamentary Secretary to two Premiers. Most proudly, I served as both the first female Attorney General and the first female Liberal Sports Minister in NSW.

I have given everything I have to this calling - my heart, energy and passion - and I have loved every minute of it. That said, I know in my heart that this is the right time to retire. It is the time for someone else to take my place and for me to do something new.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of the Electorate of Vaucluse who elected me three times to be their representative in the NSW Parliament. You inspire me every day and serving you is such a great privilege. 

We have achieved so much together – upgrades to our public transport network, local schools, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, cycleways and roads and better protecting our natural environment and heritage. Together, we also made it through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding has also been increased for domestic violence and mental health support and for our homelessness services.

As the State’s first female Attorney General I am thankful to have led reforms to support child victims in child sexual assault proceedings and as Environment Minister to have introduced the Return and Earn container deposit litter reduction scheme. Over the last three years, I have led the State’s first $60 million accelerating R&D Action Plan in a major boost for science and innovation which received an additional investment of over $480 million in the NSW 2022-23 Budget.

I owe a debt of deep gratitude to all the people who supported me in the role. It has been a team effort and I could not have done it without you.

I thank my family – my husband Alex and children Nicholas and Georgina - who have always provided me with unconditional love and support while serving in the role.

I am deeply grateful to the Liberal Party and to the Vaucluse State Electorate Conference, so ably led by President Janet McDonald AO and Treasurer Darel Hughes, for the opportunity to serve in the NSW Parliament.

I also want to thank my loyal and exceptional staff both past and present, my Parliamentary colleagues and the public servants with whom I have worked.

I am very optimistic about the future of this great State under the Liberal Nationals Government and leadership of Dom Perrottet as Premier. I truly believe that NSW is a place where every person, irrespective of their background and circumstances, has the best opportunities to live, work and raise a family.

I will continue to serve out my term as the Member for Vaucluse and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier in the lead up to the 2023 State Election.

Thank you again for giving me the honour of serving you as the Member of Vaucluse.