State senator Louise Pratt will step down from federal politics at the next election, admitting regular travel to and from Canberra becoming more difficult with her ongoing health issues.
The Kalgoorlie-born Labor Senator today announced her retirement accompanied by prime minister Anthony Albanese during his trip to WA.
Senator Pratt said she informed Mr Albanese of her intention to step down a couple of weeks ago, with her term set to end mid-next year.
"I'm announcing today that I'll be making way for a new Senator to come forward to represent both WA and WA Labor at the next election," she said.
"I have to say, I do find zone changes, flights to and from Canberra harder than I used to, and it is getting harder and harder to get on that plane.
"I have psoriatic arthritis. And it is much better managed when I'm not flying, not chairing Estimates and not whipping in the chamber.
"And I did the maths, and since being elected, I have literally spent - as my son would say, literally - and it's appropriate in this case to use those words, three months in air, 24 hours a day off the ground.
"So making this decision, nevertheless, has not been easy. I have so much of my sense of self that is tied up with this job, and I guess in public life. That is what you have to do, what you're supposed to do."
Senator Pratt was elected to the WA legislative council as the member for the East Metropolitan Region in 2001, the youngest woman to be elected to the state’s upper house at 28 years old.
She resigned from the role in 2007 to contest for WA senate, in which she was elected to later that year.
In 2013, Senator Pratt lost her seat at the general elections but was re-elected to the WA senate in 2016.
Senator Pratt said she had a "really good reason" to fight back after losing her seat in 2013 but has decided to step back, having confidence in the prime minister and the Labor party.
"My Senate term, of course, doesn't end until the middle of 2025. And this gives the Labor Party plenty of time to go through the appropriate processes to find a candidate or candidates," she said.
"I would expect that preselections will commence very soon, but of course, after the AEC has finalised its boundaries."
Mr Albanese said he had the utmost respect for Senator Pratt's decision to step down.
"Louise came to me a couple of weeks ago, and we sat in my office, and she informed me of the decision that she had made," he said.
"One of the reasons why I'm such a regular visitor to this great state of Western Australia is that I understand that more so than anywhere else in the country, it's a big ask to travel across to the East Coast.
"Not just to Canberra, but that's where most of parliamentary committee meetings take place. That's where a lot of events take place as well. And I know that Western Australians spend a lot of time - as Louise has said - three months on a plane is a lot of time."
"Louise has served on 29 different committees.
"She is someone who will depart - not yet, in time, in July of next year - with enormous goodwill. In this business, not many people get to choose their time of departure, either elections or preselections, things intervene. Louise Pratt is leaving as she arrived - on her own terms."
WA Premier Roger Cook said he had known Senator Pratt for many years, since they were young.
“I just have an immense sense of pride for Louise and all that she's achieved in her political career,” he said.
“She's stood up for the Labor movement, for our vulnerable communities and marginalised communities and she has done a great job advocating on behalf of the people of Western Australia.
“Today's decision is obviously hers, and I wish her all the very best for the future.”
