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Final bow for MP with eye for runners-up

Retiring Liberal National MP Steven Ciobo has cited standing up against some Howard government proposals among his achievements in federal parliament.

Steve Ciobo has delivers his valedictory speech in parliament.
Former Australian trade minister Steve Ciobo has delivers his valedictory speech in parliament. (AAP)

Outgoing federal parliamentarian Steven Ciobo is the man to ask if you want to know who will come second in an Australian political contest.

By his own admission, he has a knack for picking runners-up, dating back to his support for Peter Costello during the Howard government.

The Queensland Liberal MP, who is leaving parliament at this year's election after 17-and-a-half years, more recently backed Peter Dutton in his failed bid to become prime minister.

"It was like a reverse sleeping beauty fairytale," Mr Ciobo told parliament in his valedictory speech on Thursday.

"My kiss would put a person to sleep politically, for 100 years."

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Mr Ciobo became the Member for Moncrieff in 2001 after a challenging campaign during which his predecessor sued him for defamation for comments made at a branch meeting.

He now looks back fondly on his achievements in parliament since 2001.

They include campaigning for personal income tax relief and voluntary student unionism and against the coalition's proposed Access Card.

He's been a frontbencher for the past six years and thanked successive prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison for the opportunities.

Mr Ciobo noted he had contributed to a series of international agreements in his most recent role as trade minister.

Mr Ciobo, in particular, thanked Health Minister Greg Hunt for his support of HeartKids, an organisation that supports children born with heart defects. His own son Asher is one such child.

"This is not about Asher, this is about the families that will follow in our footsteps," he said.

"There are so many for whom HeartKids become heart angels."


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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