Nationals leader eyes lower house as Landry announces retirement
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the next election.
Her departure opens the door for Nationals leader Matt Canavan to seek a move from the Senate to the House of Representatives.
Ms Landry, who has represented the electorate since 2013, said it was the right time to step aside.
"At some stage you've got to take care of yourself and I thought, 'Now's the time to do it,'" she said on Friday afternoon.
"I'm the first conservative to hold this seat more than once … it's been a seat that we've worked hard and fought hard for."
Michelle Landry with family and staff at her retirement press conference. (ABC Capricornia: Vanessa Jarrett)
Ms Landry won the former Labor stronghold with a 4.5 per cent swing to the LNP and held multiple assistant minister roles under Scott Morrison.
The 90,000-square-kilometre seat encompasses Rockhampton, the Capricorn Coast, areas near Mackay and portions of mining hubs in the Bowen Basin.
Entering politics after a "nasty marriage break-up", the five-term MP said she was proud of her achievements, which included securing funding for the Rookwood Weir and the Rockhampton Hospital car park.
"I stand by my record of over six billion dollars in … projects for the region," Ms Landry said.
Ms Landry told the ABC one of her career highlights was helping fund a new hall for the Country Women's Association in Collinsville.
"To see those ladies so proud when they opened it — the hugs, the kisses, the whole community was there," she said.
She said she would be committed to delivering for the region for the rest of her term, including working to bring international flights to Rockhampton Airport ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Michelle Landry announced her retirement alongside Matt Canavan. (ABC Capricornia: Russel Talbot)
Senator Canavan said Ms Landry had been a strong advocate for the region under multiple governments.
"Michelle gets into more fights than Mike Tyson down there in Canberra, she's just always fighting for things,"
he said.
"Like a good title fighter, she's never been knocked out.
"She's been the glue that's held our party together."
The Yeppoon local would not confirm whether he would seek nomination as the LNP candidate for Capricornia in 2028.
"At some point in the future the LNP will have to preselect a candidate for Capricornia," Senator Canavan said.
"We'll make announcements to that in due course."
The LNP candidate will need to fend off One Nation, which has performed strongly in the polls.
Earlier this year the minor party announced it was looking at opening an electorate office in Yeppoon.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams thanked Ms Landry for her contributions to the city.
"Michelle has a long list of achievements from her time in politics but the thing I want to highlight above all else is her commitment to our community and putting our region front and centre on everything she's done," he said.
Michelle Landry's electorate covers 90,000 square kilometres. (Supplied: Michelle Landry's office)
Capricornia Chamber of Commerce president Jason Foss said Ms Landry would leave "big shoes to fill".
"Having a local member who is so connected to the local business and the small business industry has been a real plus," he said.
"She's been keen to listen and keen to understand what's going on."
Rockhampton veteran Bradey Livermore praised Ms Landry for being "proactive" in listening to the concerns of former service people.
"When she says she'll do something, she's going to go and get it done for you," he said.
"It's nice to see somebody get down into the trenches with us and fight for what our veterans deserve."
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