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Liberal MP Andrew Southcott to stand down at nextt election Liberal MP Andrew Southcott to stand down at next election
(34 minutes later)
Federal Liberal MP Andrew Southcott, who last month lost out in a bid to become Speaker, will not recontest his Adelaide seat of Boothby at the next federal election.Federal Liberal MP Andrew Southcott, who last month lost out in a bid to become Speaker, will not recontest his Adelaide seat of Boothby at the next federal election.
Southcott has indicated he will instead seek to renew his medical career after serving his electorate since 1996.Southcott has indicated he will instead seek to renew his medical career after serving his electorate since 1996.
The South Australian lost out in a party room ballot last month to become Speaker following the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop - who quit after it was revealed she used a taxpayer-funded helicopter to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.The South Australian lost out in a party room ballot last month to become Speaker following the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop - who quit after it was revealed she used a taxpayer-funded helicopter to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.
Southcott announced he was quitting parliament in a statement early on Friday.Southcott announced he was quitting parliament in a statement early on Friday.
He thanked residents of his electorate for their support in seven elections.He thanked residents of his electorate for their support in seven elections.
The MP told News Corp he had neither been pushed aside nor was leaving because the federal Coalition government was consistently trailing in the polls.The MP told News Corp he had neither been pushed aside nor was leaving because the federal Coalition government was consistently trailing in the polls.
The 47-year-old also said his decision was not linked to losing his bid for the speakership.The 47-year-old also said his decision was not linked to losing his bid for the speakership.
“This is entirely my own decision, I think this is the opportunity to have someone new, someone fresh,” he said, declining to nominate a preferred successor.“This is entirely my own decision, I think this is the opportunity to have someone new, someone fresh,” he said, declining to nominate a preferred successor.
“Everyone enters politics with the goal of achieving as much as they possibly can, of serving in as higher position as they can. That hasn’t happened. It’s not something I dwell on.”“Everyone enters politics with the goal of achieving as much as they possibly can, of serving in as higher position as they can. That hasn’t happened. It’s not something I dwell on.”
Southcott gathered 57% of the two-party preferred vote in 2013, restoring the seat to being a safe Liberal one.Southcott gathered 57% of the two-party preferred vote in 2013, restoring the seat to being a safe Liberal one.
But his surprise departure could give Independent Senator Nick Xenophon’s party a chance to seize the seat.But his surprise departure could give Independent Senator Nick Xenophon’s party a chance to seize the seat.
That party’s Senate vote at the 2013 election was highest in Boothby, where it outpolled the Liberals.That party’s Senate vote at the 2013 election was highest in Boothby, where it outpolled the Liberals.