Steven Ciobo bows out with lighthearted farewell speech

Steven Ciobo has signed off on his political career with a lighthearted farewell speech in which he admitted to getting one major question wrong every time it was asked.

STEVEN Ciobo has signed off on his political career with an at-times lighthearted farewell speech looking back at his 17-year career.

The outgoing Member for Moncrieff gave his valedictory address to Parliament this morning, thanking family, friends and supporters while recalling his ups and downs.

The former Tourism Minister used his near-4000 word speech to humorously recall his penchant for backing the wrong candidates in the Liberal Party’s leadership wars which raged through his time in office.

“Those who have followed my political career – which I guess is mainly confined to my family members – would have seen some early evidence of my special gift of successfully always picking the person who had come second in any political contest,” he said.

“With only a couple of exceptions, it was a record of success that for most of the past 17 or 18 years I was always able to pick and back the person who had come second – the stuff of legend.

“It was like a reverse Sleeping Beauty fairytale. My kiss would put a person to political sleep for 100 years.”

Minister for Defence Industry Steven Ciobo makes his valedictory speech in the House of Representatives. Picture: Getty Images

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The 44-year-old was first elected to parliament in November 2001 when he replaced the retiring Kathy Sullivan.

Mr Ciobo, in his speech, made mention of his difficult relationship with his predecessor but focused primarily on the highlights of his long career, particularly his time as Tourism and Trade Minister.

He also used his speech to single out his longtime staffer, Karly Abbott, who will contest Saturday’s preselection battle to determine the Liberal Party’s candidate for the safe seat.

“I want to thank Karly for her support and work, and I wish her the very best of luck,” he said.

“Karly will be running on Saturday for preselection for my seat, and I think she would make a terrific member in this place – but ultimately it’s a decision, of course, for the Moncrieff preselectors.”

Karly Abbott, who will contest Saturday’s preselection battle for the seat of Moncrieff. Picture: Richard Gosling.

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The self-described idealist used his speech to discuss his reasons for retiring from politics, as first revealed last month by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“It’s also to show my sons, Asher and Tennyson, that, in life, you need to get out of your comfort zone,” he said.

“Getting out of your comfort zone and doing something different is just so important after you feel you’ve made a contribution.”

Mr Ciobo, one of a number of retiring MPs to give speeches, paid special tribute to his wife Astra.

“Astra has been rock-solid with me on every step of this journey. I don’t say ‘behind me’. I don’t say she ‘supported me’. We’ve stood beside each other,” he said.

“We were starry-eyed idealists, I think, when I first started in this role. Now we’re more prudent and, I guess, a little weathered and we’re both realistic.

“But, through it all, we know that the bond of love and friendship that we have together has meant that this has been an extraordinary journey.”