Steve Ciobo exit on the cards for weeks

Former cabinet minister Steve Ciobo told Scott Morrison several weeks ago he intended to ­retire from politics at the election.

Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo at home on the Gold Coast. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Former cabinet minister Steve Ciobo told Scott Morrison several weeks ago that he intended to ­retire from politics at the election.

He then promptly offered his resignation as defence industries minister. “It was the honourable thing to do,” he told The Weekend Australian yesterday.

In an exclusive interview ahead of his announcement, the 44-year-old Gold Coast MP said his decis­ion was based purely on a desire to do something else and was not a reflection of confidence in the election outcome.

“After 17 years in parliament, I have taken the decision that it’s time to move on to something else,” he said.

“I’ve been speaking with the PM for some time … my decision not to recontest wasn’t decided by the events of last year.

“I’ve always said that politics is a means, not an end. I have had the extraordinary privilege of serving my country as trade minister, and the contribution I got to make, in particular with the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Indonesian free-trade agreement.

“But now is the time to do something else. I’ve always said I’m not going to be a time server.”

Sources close to him suggested he began considering his future when he lost the trade portfolio in the wash-up of last year’s leadership spill. He had backed his friend and fellow Queenslander Peter Dutton.

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The father of two, who long harboured leadership ambitions, has been a prominent party figure and key fundraiser since entering parliament as a 27-year-old.

He was promoted to cabinet three years ago under Malcolm Turnbull.

As trade minister he was credited with securing a string of free-trade agreements, including the Indonesian deal, which will be signed on Monday.

He was credited with the Hong Kong free-trade deal and launching negotiations for a post-Brexit British deal and an EU agreement.

His close friend, former treas­urer and current ambassador to Washington Joe Hockey, said Mr Ciobo had made a significant contribution­.

Mr Hockey and Mr Ciobo were instrumental in protecting the Australian steel and aluminium industries amid tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.

“Steve has been one of the most accomplished members of parliament in the last decade,” Mr Hockey said. “He is a true believer in proper budget management, ­enterprise, he is an advocate for it and he has had a significant ­material impact on Australia’s prosperity as trade minister.”

First elected in 2001 in the safe Gold Coast seat of Moncrieff, held by the Liberals on a margin of 15 per cent, Mr Ciobo was elevated to cabinet in February 2016.

He was trade, tourism and investm­ent minister for two years before backing Mr Dutton in last year’s leadership challenge. He then unsuccessfully challenged for the role of Liberal deputy leader.

It is understood he will ­endorse a senior adviser in his office, Karly Abbott, to take over the seat of Moncrieff.

“It would be great to get a young woman in a seat like Moncrief­f … there will certainly be interest, but I would never usurp the party members … they are the ­people that make the decision,” he said.

Mr Ciobo would not be drawn on the events that cost him his portfolio in the post-spill wash-up.

“Scott is the Prime Minister now … he is a man of strong convicti­on and a strong sense of leadership … I am supremely confiden­t he will lead the Liberal and ­National parties to victory,” Mr Ciobo said.

“What happened last year is water under the bridge. You can’t navel-gaze about the past.”