Polarising South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi will quit politics in little more than a fortnight, ending a turbulent 13-year parliamentary career.

The former Australian Conservatives leader, pictured, last night confirmed that he had told family, friends and colleagues of his decision to retire from politics after federal parliament’s last sitting day for the year, December 5.

His retirement, which was exclusively reported on advertiser.com.au yesterday, will trigger a Liberal factional race for the vacant SA Senate spot, because he was elected as a Liberal in 2016. The Liberal Party, therefore, will choose his replacement.

This will recast the Senate crossbench numbers by handing the Liberals another seat, though Senator Bernardi usually voted with the Government.

media_camera Senator Cory Bernardi will retire from politics in December. Picture: AAP / Sam Mooy

Senator Bernardi told Sky News he would be spending the first weeks of his retirement in Coffin Bay, on the Eyre Peninsula, “fishing and kite boarding”.

He said he was “extremely grateful” to have served but that the time was now right for his departure.

“I don’t want to go back to it next year. I know that there is another chapter of my life that is going to unfold,” he said.

“I feel in a very comfortable and happy place. I figure it is time to give someone else the opportunity.”

While holding controversial positions on same-sex marriage, abortion, and radical Islam, Senator Bernardi said he had stayed true to his values and principles.

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“My integrity is intact and I feel comfortable with who I am and what I have spoken about and if there are regrets, there are only a few.

The Advertiser in June revealed Senator Bernardi was set to quit parliament at a yet-to-be-determined date.

His short-term future is unclear, though The Advertiser reported in July that he was planning to time his parliamentary departure to coincide with a US visit to back the like-minded President Donald Trump’s campaign for the November election, possibly as a commentator.

It is also likely he will resume his pre-politics career as an investment adviser and fund manager, though he was also a prominent self-employed Adelaide CBD hotelier from 1992-96.

media_camera Senator Cory Bernardi and his wife Sinead. Picture: Matt Turner

The timing of Senator Bernardi’s departure is likely to have been engineered to enable the resurgent Liberal Right to claim the Senate spot, with his ex-staffer and Young Liberals federal vice-president Jocelyn Sutcliffe having been mentioned among contenders.

Former Law Council of Australia and Law Society of SA president Morry Bailes is also considered a favourite.

Twice-defeated Mayo candidate Georgina Downer, also of the Right, had been a frontrunner but she has confirmed her intention to return in January to Melbourne.

Riverland vet and Liberal state vice-president Nicola Centofanti, also of the Right, has also been mentioned but is said to be planning to seek a state Upper House position.

media_camera Cory Bernardi as a city publican in 1991.

The Liberals are hoping to repeat May’s election result and secure three SA Senate spots at the next poll. Senator Bernardi was himself appointed to the Senate, in 2006 to replace retiring defence minister Robert Hill – a leader of the rival moderate faction.

Senator Bernardi has expressed polarising views on subjects including same-sex marriage and abortion.

He quit as a Liberal parliamentary secretary in 2012 following comments predicting the next step after legalising same-sex marriage would be allowing polygamy or bestiality.