A retiring Queensland MP says her two decades in state politics have reinforced her belief that independents play a pivotal role in democracy.

Member for Gladstone Liz Cunningham has served as an independent for 20 years and says, despite stepping down from her role, she will continue to be heavily involved in the community. (ABC Local:Alice Roberts)

Liz Cunningham has served the Gladstone electorate for 20 years, but is standing down ahead of the state election.

Ms Cunningham was elected in 1995 after a number of years with the Calliope Shire Council, including serving as mayor from 1991 to 1995.

She says the major parties continue to dislike independents and see them as a 'hinderance'.

"[The major parties] don't like that separate point of view being made, that voice," she said.

"When it comes to the crunch about supporting democracy versus supporting the party structure, the two parties get together and they knock the rest of us off.

"I would love for voters to look at that and say 'well let's give them a go' because they're free to speak for the community, they're not bound by the party line."

Gladstone's battle

Ms Cunningham says one of the biggest challenges for the Gladstone electorate has been supporting heavy industry.

"It is a challenge for all regional members that the state of Queensland doesn't end at Caboolture or at Toowoomba but that the rest of the state is of infinite value," she said.

"Gladstone, as an electorate, contributes to the state's GDP and the nation's GDP significantly and it's been very difficult to get the former government, and to some extent the current government, they acknowledge it but it's been difficult to get that translated into funding for infrastructure.

"Not just the built infrastructure but the unseen stuff, the support for families, the support for families in crisis, so that's been a challenge and I think it will continue to be."

My biggest achievement

Ms Cunningham says the highlight of her career has been representing the Gladstone community.

"And also legislation that has promoted the safety of children, including the unborn," she said.

"One of the pieces of legislation that was passed right in my first term was the protection of unborn children from assault.

"The assault provisions were proposed to be from 26 weeks on; myself and Fiona Simpson, and there were others, who persevered who said 'we won't support that, it's from conception' and that stands in the statute now."

The vital role independents play was made evident to Ms Cunningham early on in her career when the balance of power was placed in her hands after Labor lost the Mundingburra by-election in February 1996.

She says it was a lot of pressure.

"My goal was to be faithful to the trust that the community had put in me here because it's our local communities that elect us," she said.

"But also, remembering as a state we needed stability and I endeavoured to vote on all the matters on their merit."

Women in politics

Ms Cunningham says she has never felt discriminated against because of her sex and she has always felt respected by the men she has worked alongside.

"I often tell young men and young women, but it's particularly relevant to young women, you will come across people who treat you differently because you're a female," she said.

"The minute you accept that treatment it becomes your problem.

"If you reject that and say I'm not going to be affected by that, I'm going to ignore that behaviour because I am of value, so any kind of prejudice that's exhibited, if they don't assume it then it stays with the person trying to deliver that behaviour."

The future

Ms Cunningham says she is still not sure what her future will hold but she is determined to stay heavily involved in the Gladstone community.

"It will be difficult because it has been a privilege to work with this community," she said.

"I'm the member until the 30th of January and I'll continue to work right through until then, after that, there have been suggestions of holidays and we will take a break but I want to stay involved and the scope is as broad as possible."

She says she hopes the next elected member will continue to serve the community well.

"Whoever wins, I certainly hope that they get the opportunity to see Gladstone as I saw it, as such a wonderful bunch of people, and industry, and businesses, who work together, who look positively at things and that the local member contributes to that as much as they can," she said.