The Reverend Fred Nile delays retirement by running in the March state election

Despite numerous retirement announcements over his 40 years in NSW Parliament, the Reverend Fred Nile was set to finally depart on March 3. But an 11th-hour bid has him back on the ballot.

After more than 40 years in politics, it appears some kind of divine intervention is keeping veteran MP Fred Nile entwined with the red leather of Macquarie Street’s upper house.

Nile, best known as the Christian Democrats Leader before the party was dissolved amid a messy legal stoush, has now un-retired — again.

The 88-year-old first announced his latest retirement plans in 2021.

Then he rescinded that offer last year, vowing he would “never retire,” while announcing plans to stand for the Seniors United Party.

Creative differences saw that relationship later break down.

Then, as the sun was setting on this parliamentary term, Nile announced his retirement again. He said wife Silvana would stand in his place on the top of the Revive Australia Party ticket.

But now it appears that Nile’s mission isn’t finished. Silvana Nile has brought him on board to run underneath her on the ballot paper.

The Revive Australia Party is not yet registered with the electoral commission.

Silvana Nile said that running a second “independent” candidate aligned with the RAP would give the pair their own column on the ballot paper.

She needs all the help she can get — it will take an electoral miracle for Nile to get elected for another eight years.

But Nile’s decision to run again would have raised some eyebrows among MPs and staff in Macquarie Street, who think that he is not the staunch figure he once was.

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