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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. |
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