Polarising former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has ruled out a shock political comeback which wouldn't have washed with his wife Lisa.
Mr Newman has admitted his spouse "wouldn't cop" a return to politics following a day of intense speculation when it was revealed he was considering a federal tilt.
The former premier and Brisbane lord mayor had been touted as a prime candidate for the Liberal National Party in this year's election following Brisbane MP Teresa Gambaro's decision to stand down.
But he has told News Corp he has too many other business commitments.
"I am ruling it out. It is a definite no," he told The Australian.
"I can't just walk away from a range of other commitments and obligations I have with various businesses."
He added he spoke to wife Lisa, who had been pleased to see him free from politics 13 months ago, and she "wouldn't cop it".
Mr Newman instead endorsed National Retail Association Chief Executive Trevor Evans.
Former LNP MP Gavin King, who penned his biography, revealed on Thursday morning his old boss was "weighing up" contesting this year's federal election.
Mr Newman, AAP understands, had also been seeking advice from his inner circle over whether he should run, but attempts to contact him on Thursday were unsuccessful.
A first-term premier who was punted from his own Ashgrove seat at last year's election loss to Labor, he would have started as an outsider to win the tight seat of Brisbane.
The short-lived speculation gave former adversaries the chance to remind Mr Newman, who lost a 72-seat majority from when he was elected in 2012, of his unpopularity with voters.
Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles was the most scathing, insisting he was "under the delusion" people no longer despised him.
"They haven't forgotten how much they hate you," Dr Miles said before referencing the Newman government's controversial mass sacking of public servants.
"After all, you've sacked nearly half of them."
Education Minister Kate Jones, who deposed Mr Newman in Ashgrove, continued in the same vein, saying Brisbane voters "deserve a local member of parliament that is there to serve them, not themselves".
