Coalition MP Karen Andrews announces she will not recontest next federal election
Queensland Coalition MP Karen Andrews has called time on her political career, announcing she will quit the opposition frontbench.
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A veteran Queensland Coalition MP has called time on their political career, making the shock call to be left off Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s frontbench.
Former minister and long-time McPherson MP Karen Andrews announced on Tuesday she would not be recontesting her seat at the next federal election — set to be held any time between August 2024 and May 2025.
As part of the decision, made after “much deliberation”, the Gold Coast MP has asked federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to take her off his frontbench amid a broader reshuffle caused by the resignation of Julian Leeser from his portfolios.
She is currently the Opposition Home Affairs, Child Protection and Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence spokeswoman.
But Ms Andrews is clear her resignation is not connected to the Liberal party room’s decision not to support a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament, vowing to “support the party position on the voice”.
Rather the decision to step back from the Opposition frontbench was to “ensure the Coalition has maximum time to have a replacement in the crucial Home Affairs portfolio and the best local candidate in McPherson in place”.
She will also “campaign hard for a Coalition victory at the next election”.
“I am proud to have been the first female Queensland MP in a cabinet role, and I am even prouder of the strong work the Coalition did in government to safeguard Australia’s national security,” Ms Andrews said.
“I want to thank the Liberal National Party members for entrusting me with my preselection, my tireless staff, my Parliamentary colleagues, and the incredible personal protection team at the AFP.
“And, of course, I want to thank my loving family for their unwavering support and their endless understanding of my demanding travel schedule, constant phone interruptions and for regularly cutting short our Sunday lunches to fly down to Canberra.”
Ms Andrews has served as the member for McPherson since 2010.
She will hold a press conference at 11am on the Gold Coast.
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