Veteran MP Mark Robinson has announced he will not recontest his long-held seat at the 2024 state election, revealing his desire to spend more time with family after five consecutive terms in office.
The long-serving MP used his budget reply speech last Friday to announce his retirement plans, telling the house he wanted to pursue interests outside of politics that had been “on hold and on my heart”.
Dr Robinson – who is also a pastor at Favor Church in Carindale – has held multiple positions within the LNP shadow cabinet during his time as Oodgeroo MP and had a stint as deputy speaker during the Campbell Newman era between 2012-2015.
He pledged to continue working hard for his community until the last day of his term next year and said he remained fiercely committed to helping the LNP win government, with the state election now just 16 months away.
Former Queensland senator and Sky News host Amanda Stoker has recently moved to Redlands and is said to be considering a return to politics at the state election.
It would set up a preselection battle with former federal MP Andrew Laming, who has also expressed interest in running for Oodgeroo.
Dr Robinson told parliament he would like to see a local female candidate contest the seat, adding that announcing his intentions early gave the party plenty of time to get the best candidate in the field.
“She would create history by becoming the first female member of parliament for Cleveland/Oodgeroo on either side of politics in the 30-plus years of the history of the seat,” he said
“That is something I would dearly like to see happen as I leave.”
Dr Robinson said he would spend his time in political retirement making himself more available to his family, as he was now a grandfather to four young children and was also primary carer for his elderly mother.
He thanked his wife Julie, the LNP, local supporters and his staff for their support over his five terms serving the Oodgeroo electorate (formerly Cleveland), which incorporates North Stradbroke Island.
“I want to thank LNP Leader David Crisafulli and my parliamentary colleagues for understanding my decision to move on from politics after so many years,” Dr Robinson said.
I wish David and the LNP team every success in forming government at the 2024 state election.
“Under David’s leadership, our LNP team is showing Queenslanders there’s an alternative to the chaos and crisis they’re seeing in this Labor government.”
Dr Robinson said it had been an honour to serve his community in Oodgeroo and thanked them for the support they had shown him over the past 15 years.
