Former cabinet minister Ian Macfarlane says he's quitting politics because sitting on the backbench isn't an option for him.
Mr Macfarlane announced on Monday he will not be recontesting the Queensland seat of Groom at the next election after almost 18 years in federal parliament.
The Liberal MP, who failed in a bid to join the Nationals party late last year, said he knew by Christmas it was time to go.
Instead he would move on to something where his "depth of experience and knowledge" would be of value.
"I don't want to be a passenger in politics if I'm not involved in cabinet," he told ABC radio.
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"There comes a time when you've given all you've got - when you've become a passenger it's time to get off and let someone else drive ... sitting on the backbench wasn't an option for me."
Asked if he felt hurt by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dumping him from cabinet as industry minister, Mr Macfarlane said: "They are all things for the book I will never write."
Mr Macfarlane wants his successor in the electorate to be someone with potential to nab a cabinet spot.
"We need to make sure we can offer someone to voters of Groom who ... has potential in time to get into cabinet to make sure we have cabinet ministers to greater Queensland."
