Independent Senator Tim Storer will not recontest his seat in the federal election, citing the job's impact on his young family.
The South Australian former Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) candidate announced his decision not to renominate for the Senate seat he's occupied since February 2018 on Thursday.
"With full knowledge of life as an Independent senator and the implications of what this means for my young family for the next six years, I have decided to not nominate for re-election," Senator Storer said in a statement.
"It would be disingenuous of me to ask South Australians for their vote in these circumstances."
Senator Storer was appointed by the High Court in 2018 to replace former NXT senator Skye Kakoschke-Moore, who stood down over her dual British citizenship, and was later found ineligible by the High Court.
Senator Storer led a Senate inquiry into electric vehicles and introduced the Parliamentary Transparency Charter, which called for greater accountability in federal politics.
Senator Storer has urged voters to consider the important role that independents can play in politics in the upcoming federal election.
"Thoughtful and principled independents have an important role to play, as I hope I have demonstrated. I urge voters to consider that as they weigh up who to support on May 18," he said.
Australian Associated Press
