Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds to retire after decade in politics

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Western Australian Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds has announced she will retire from her seat at the next election.

The 58-year-old this afternoon said she will not seek another term beyond June 2025, after serving in the Senate for a decade.

Her decision came as nominations for the state’s party preselection close this week ahead of the next election.

“For 40 years I have proudly served my nation in the Army, in the Liberal Party, in defence industry, in Parliament and in Government,” she said in a statement.

“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.

“Being preselected and elected to the Senate is a great honour and a privilege few Australians are afforded.”

Reynolds has been a member with the Liberal Party for more than 35 years.

She served as Defence Minister and Government Services and NDIS Minister under the Morrison government from 2019 to 2022, a time which she said was some of the “most challenging” in the nation’s recent history.

Reynolds’ time in federal government faced scrutiny over allegations former staffer Brittany Higgins was raped in her ministerial office in 2019.

She is currently suing the ACT government and Higgins for defamation.

Now retiring from politics, Reynolds said she will continue to serve in her career but in new ways.

“Just as the health of our democracy can never be taken for granted, neither can the health of political parties – both must be constantly renewed and strengthened,” 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.”

The outgoing Senator also pledged her support in helping elect Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as Prime Minister and Libby Mettam as Western Australia’s next Premier.

Her resignation came just weeks after her former party leader and prime minister Scott Morrison announced his own retirement.