Liberal MP Paul Fletcher to Step Down After 15 Years in Federal Politics

Paul Fletcher, former minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts speaks at the Museum of Contemporary Art prior to the Cathy Freeman projection event on September 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Veteran Liberal MP Paul Fletcher has announced he will not seek re-election in the upcoming federal election, concluding a 15-year career in Parliament.

Representing the Bradfield electorate in northern Sydney, Fletcher’s decision marks the end of his tenure, leaving a vacancy that will likely spark a heated contest from the Liberal Party and “teals.”

His resignation follows that of another moderate factional figure in the Coalition, Simon Birmingham, the outgoing shadow foreign affairs spokesman, who stepped down last month.

Fletcher’s decision to step down paves the way for a potential challenge in the Bradfield seat, with local environmental advocate Nicolette Boele already vying for the position.

Boele is running on a pro-climate platform as a teal independent, trying to capitalise on the momentum from 2022 that saw the centre-right Liberal Party shorn of of several stronghold seats due to an increased interest in climate action from voters.

Fletcher, however, remains optimistic about the seat’s future.

“I expect some outstanding people will put themselves forward to be the next Liberal candidate for Bradfield. That Liberal candidate, once chosen, will have my full support,” he said.

A Long Political Legacy

Fletcher’s political career spans various key positions, including his time as Minister for Communications, Minister for Social Services, and Minister for Infrastructure from 2015 to 2022.

In his announcement, Fletcher mentioned some of his key achievements, such as the establishment of the eSafety commission, the Mobile Black Spots Program, the development of the Western Sydney Airport, and the introduction of the News Media Bargaining Code.

Fletcher also highlighted his advocacy for issues such as road user charges and broadcast spectrum allocation despite not all efforts succeeding.

“I tried to allocate broadcast spectrum more efficiently. Neither effort succeeded but I do not regret for a second having a go,” he remarked in his statement.

He expressed pride in his work, stating, “It has been a considerable privilege to represent the people of Bradfield and to serve in various roles, including as a Parliamentary Secretary, Minister, and Cabinet Minister.”

Support for the Dutton Coalition government

Despite his retirement from active politics, Fletcher has expressed his continued support for the Liberal Party and its leader, Peter Dutton, who is focused on reclaiming government at the next election.

“People want to get rid of the hopeless and chaotic Albanese Labor government–and voting for the Liberal candidate is the only way to secure this outcome,” Fletcher stated.

Fletcher also underscored the importance of his party’s efforts under Dutton’s leadership, remarking on how political commentators two years ago had written off the Liberal Party’s chances.

“Thanks to Peter Dutton’s focus and leadership, the next election is now extremely contestable,” he added.

After his term ends, Fletcher plans to take time off for travel and rest before returning to the private sector.

His focus will shift towards the communications, digital technology, infrastructure, and transport sectors, where he has expertise from his public and private sector roles.

Liberal MP Defends Dutton’s Leadership Amid Resignations

With the back-to-back resignations of moderate figures like Fletcher and Birmingham, questions have arisen about the future of the Liberal Party under Dutton’s leadership, especially ahead of the upcoming federal election.

However, Liberal MP Andrew Wallace has downplayed concerns, suggesting that the departures should not be overly scrutinised.

Speaking to Sky News Australia, Wallace explained that people leave politics for various reasons and stressed the party’s depth of talent.

“We’ve got a very, very long line of depth, of very talented people who will no doubt be stepping up to fill Paul’s place,” Wallace said.