Western Australian senator Linda Reynolds will not contest the 2025 federal election.
Western Australian senator Linda Reynolds will not contest the 2025 federal election.
Senator Reynolds released a brief statement on social media today to confirm she would not contest for Senate candidacy ahead of the 2025 ballot, in a move that will put a full stop on a 10-year stint in federal politics.
She will remain in the Senate until the end of her term in June 2025.
“It is rare in politics to have the opportunity to choose the time and circumstances of your departure, and my decision has been made after considerable reflection of what is behind me and the opportunities that are now ahead of me,” Senator Reynolds said.
“Being preselected and elected to the Senate is a great honour and a privilege few Australians are afforded.
“This is my tenth year in the Senate and my passion and commitment to my state and to my nation remains as strong as ever.”
Senator Reynolds was most notably a cabinet minister in the Morrison government, serving as minister for defence from 2019 to 2021 before shifting into the government services and National Disability Insurance Schemes portfolios until the change of government at the 2022 federal election.
She was first elected to the Senate in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2019.
Senator Reynolds said she was indebted to the Liberal Party for its endorsement of her over her time in parliament and as a 35-year member.
“I will of course keep working with my party to assist it to diversify and do all I can to support the election of Peter Dutton as our next prime minister and Libby Mettam as WA’s next premier,” she said.
“Having achieved more than I set out to when I entered the Senate, there is no perfect time to leave politics, but this is the right time for me and for the WA Liberal Party to provide my successor with the same opportunities it has given me.”
Senator Reynolds’ time in parliament has not been without controversy.
She filed four defamation lawsuits with the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2023 as a result of materials published relating to her handling of former staffer Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual misconduct in 2019.
A case against journalist Aaron Patrick and HarperCollins was settled out of court.
A further three, against Ms Higgins, her partner David Sharaz and former ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold, remain ongoing.
Liberal preselection nominations for the Senate close in WA this week.