Christian Porter announces resignation from federal politics following year of scandal

Christian Porter has announced he will quit federal politics following a year filled with scandal and controversy.

Former Attorney-General Christian Porter has announced his resignation from federal politics following a tumultuous year, and issued a parting shot about there being “no limits” to what people will say.

Mr Porter will step down from parliament at the next election.

He made the announcement in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon.

“This week ... I made the decision that I will not recontest the seat of Pearce at the next federal election and I have informed the Prime Minister of that decision,” he wrote.

Mr Porter said for much of his time in Cabinet he was entrusted with multiple senior portfolios at once.

He served as parliamentary secretary in the Abbott government, social services minister in the Turnbull government, and Attorney-General in the Turnbull and Morrison governments.

“That was a challenge that I always gave everything to and when working for the Australian public in these roles I never left anything in the tank,” he wrote.

“When you are an obsessive compulsive type and entrusted with work that you believe in and that you believe is deeply important, the by-product becomes that people in your life that deserve more from you, especially your family, get much less than they deserve.”

He wrote that his son was born one day before he became a minister.

“He and his little sister have never known anything but their father’s regular absence and so the next part of my working life will be anchored around being close to them and being there for them,” the post said.

Christian Porter delivers his maiden speech at Parliament House in December 2013. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Munoz

Mr Porter also issued a scathing assessment about the current state of politics, but noted he had no regrets.

“There are few, if any, constants left in modern politics,” he said.

“Perhaps the only certainty now is that there appears to be no limit to what some will say or allege or do to gain an advantage over a perceived enemy.

“This makes the harshness that can accompany the privilege of representing people, harder than ever before.

“But even though I have experienced perhaps more of the harshness of modern politics than most, there are no regrets.”

Mr Porter denied a rape allegation, insisting he had been a victim of ‘trial by media’. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mr Porter came under fire in March 2021 after revealing he was the government minister accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in 1988.

He denies the allegations.

The woman who alleged the rape died by suicide in 2020, and her statement was sent anonymously to the Prime Minister and several other MPs in February 2021.

Mr Porter confirmed he met the woman in Sydney when he was 17, but denied having any sexual contact with her.

He took leave from his role as Attorney-General following the revelations, citing mental health concerns.

Mr Porter’s character was again called into question in September 2021 after it was revealed an anonymous donor was paying his legal fees in a defamation case against the ABC.

Despite calls for him to release the names of the donors, Mr Porter claimed he had no access to information about the conduct and funding of the blind trust.

Instead of revealing the details, he opted to resign from the ministry.

Mr Porter joined federal parliament in September 2013, winning the seat of Pearce in Perth’s north.

“Before each election I have always asked myself whether I could absolutely guarantee another three years of total commitment to the electorate because people deserve that commitment, free of any reservations,” he wrote.

“After a long time giving everything I could to the people of Pearce it’s now time to give more of what is left to those around me whose love has been unconditional.”