Bob Carr quits Senate, 18 months after entering Federal Parliament

Updated

Bob Carr has announced he is quitting the Senate, 18 months after he was recruited by then prime minister Julia Gillard, and 30 years after he first entered the political fray.

Senator Carr, 66, says his resignation will take effect from Thursday.

The former New South Wales premier and, more recently, foreign affairs minister, acknowledges his time in federal politics was "a somewhat fleeting period".

"It has been a learning experience that's unrivalled, equivalent to a dozen PhDs," he told reporters in Canberra this morning.

"I've been able to do some good in the context of continuity of Australian foreign policy which I was stressing from day one."

Senator Carr also paid tribute to Ms Gillard and former prime minister and his predecessor in the foreign affairs portfolio, Kevin Rudd.

"Julia Gillard, especially in the elevation of our relations with China to a strategic partnership with guaranteed meetings once a year between Australian and Chinese leaders," he said.

"And to Kevin Rudd of course with G20, East Asia Summit and the launch of Australia's bid for the UN Security Council."

'Tradition of successful Australian foreign policy'

Mr Carr said: "I was very conscious as foreign minister that I was working within a tradition and working with what is fundamentally a successful Australian foreign policy.

"I'm convinced, I'm not making a partisan point, this is something ... that goes back through different governments, that Australia's foreign policy settings are fundamentally right and valid and reflect the national interest of this country."

Senator Carr says one of the highlights of his time as foreign minister was taking over the bid for Australia's seat on the United Nations Security Council.

"[It] was a wonderful challenge and it was thrilling to be there at the meeting on October 18 last year when we won by such a big margin," he said.

"I think I've been able to see Australian foreign policy more closely aligned with the position of the 10 ASEAN nations.

"Visiting 11 Arab countries in 18 months I think can I point to an enhancement of our relationship with the Arab world?

"Australia's reputation as a good global citizen contributed to our success in that Security Council vote and one part of that is our generous and efficient overseas development assistance package."

Kelly, O'Neill frontrunners to replace Carr

His sudden entry to Parliament in March 2012, after six years out of politics, was made possible by Mr Rudd's loss in a leadership ballot and the resignation of Senator Mark Arbib.

Since Labor's defeat in the September federal election, it was widely tipped that Mr Carr would not serve in opposition and would leave politics.

His departure opens the way for the NSW right faction of the ALP to select a new senator.

Watching [Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd] close up, I saw only positive things about two people trying to do their best for Australia and doing a great deal that was positive and good, especially in the realm of foreign policy. Bob Carr

Former central coast MP Deb O'Neill, who lost her Lower House seat of Robertson in September, immediately threw her hat into the ring.

"I intend to nominate for the Senate so I can continue to serve the people of Central Coast, and those across New South Wales," she said in a statement.

"Across the state there are very many people who did not vote for the current government. They are people who hold Labor values dear. I would like to be a voice for them in the Senate and with my Labor colleagues provide the very necessary scrutiny of the Abbott government."

Former Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly, who was a minister under Mr Rudd and lost his Lower House seat at the election, confirmed he would also nominate.

But he made it clear his preference was to win back his former seat.

"I would make the firm commitment to recontest Eden-Monaro at the next election as well - seek pre-selection to do that," he said.

"So that would be the basis on which I would put forward my nomination."

Union leader Paul Howes pulled out of the race for the coveted NSW Senate spot last month - before it was even vacant - because he said his candidacy would "rip" Labor apart.

Nominations will close at midday next Wednesday, and a decision will be made by the NSW Labor Party officials shortly thereafter.

Carr says he doesn't want to 'hog shadow ministry'

Senator Carr has defended the timing of his decision, more than eight months before his Senate term was due to end.

"It's at least three years before we have the chance of another Labor Government," he said.

"Hogging the shadow ministry, denying a younger colleague the opportunity to serve in that role, I didn't think upon reflection, would be in the best interests of the Australian Labor Party."

Senator Carr says he plans work with the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney and reinvent himself as a specialist in Asia, "reflecting the tone and tenor of the White Paper (Australia in the Asian Century)".

"I don't want to lose what modest foothold I've got in knowledge of these societies and their relations one with the other by giving up that area too soon," he said.

Senator Carr says he does not want to become a commentator on the Labor Party "as much as I love every fibre of its being and every shade of its personality".

"I know there are criticisms and I know the Labor Party is bound now to move beyond the tension of the Rudd-Gillard, Gillard-Rudd relationship," he said.

"But watching them close up, I saw only positive things about two people trying to do their best for Australia and doing a great deal that was positive and good, especially in the realm of foreign policy.

"So with malice towards none and generosity and charity to all, I bid my farewell."

Topics: federal-parliament, parliament, government-and-politics, alp, political-parties, australia, nsw

First posted