I have informed my Electorate Committee that I will not nominate for re-election as the Member for Higgins. 

It has been an honour to serve the Higgins electorate for nearly 20 years.  I have particularly enjoyed the opportunity to spend more time in the electorate since the 2007 Election.  I will continue to serve my Parliamentary term.

Over the course of the last 18 months many constituents – and Australians from all over the country – have urged me to re-nominate.  I have enjoyed the complete support of my Electorate Committee and the Liberal Party organisation in this regard.

Nevertheless my view is, as it was in November 2007, that it is time for me to pursue other interests and it is in the long term interest of the Liberal Party for others of ability and integrity to step forward and represent it.

I wish our Party and its Leaders – Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop – every success in the next election.  I pay tribute to the work done by Brendan Nelson in the difficult aftermath of the 2007 Election loss.

I will continue to be involved in public policy – particularly at the international level – through my engagement on the International Advisory Board of the World Bank. 

I would like to thank my constituents and the electors of Higgins for the privilege of representing them in seven Commonwealth Parliaments.  Three of those terms have been in Opposition and four in Government.

I would like to thank my Electorate Committee and the branch members of the Liberal Party who have supported me and worked tirelessly on seven election campaigns.

Finally I want to express my gratitude to my wife and family who have been unstinting in their loyalty throughout my political career.  I owe them a great deal.