Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke announces retirement at next state election

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke is set to announce his retirement, as his faction moves to ensure his successor is chosen without a fight.

Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke, centre, will quit parliament at the end of this term. Picture: Aden Stokes

Annastacia Palaszczuk will lose a third member of her team at next year’s state election, with Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke this week announcing his retirement.

Mr O’Rourke, elected in 2017, did not submit required paperwork to renominate for his seat by the ALP’s deadline on Friday.

He announced his retirement on local radio on Monday afternoon, an hour after The Australian approached him with questions on his political future.

He had been due to make a speech to announce the news in state parliament on Tuesday.

“I think it is time for me to take a step back.” he told 4RO radio.

“I have had a few health issues that have slowed me a little bit but won’t stop me through to the election come October next year.”

Labor sources told The Australian that biomedical engineer Craig Marshal, who worked on Mr O’Rourke’s previous election campaigns, has submitted an expression of interest for the seat.

Before he entered parliament, Mr O’Rourke worked for the state public service as regional director of housing and homelessness services in Rockhampton.

Sources said Mr O’Rourke, a member of Labor’s small Old Guard faction, and his backers would be trying to ensure his chosen successor Mr Marshall inherited the seat without a fight.

Under ALP rules, however, if a sitting MP indicates they will retire without giving two weeks’ notice, party HQ must reopen nominations to allow other contenders a chance to contest the preselection.

In September, the Premier gave her MPs a seven-week deadline to declare whether they would contest the state election.

Under Labor’s affirmative action rules, at least two sitting male MPs have to be replaced by female candidates at the election.

Long-serving minister Stirling Hinchliffe in October announced his retirement and backbencher and Ipswich West MP Jim Madden, of the Left faction, announced in April he would not recontest, after denying allegations of workplace bullying.

Mr O’Rourke threatened to leave the party last year over ­delayed funding for the ­Rockhampton Ring Road.

In text messages leaked to The Australian, Mr O’Rourke accused Transport Minister Mark Bailey of having “totally f$@ked” (sic) up crucial regional infrastructure.

“Mate if you do not announce funding next week in Rocky, I’m out,” he wrote.

“F..k u and the Labor Party.”

Anthony Albanese and Ms Palas­zczuk announced a $280m deal on a central Queensland road hours later.