NSW Transport Minister David Elliott has joined a growing list of government members announcing they will quit state politics next year.
Changes to electoral boundaries mean Mr Elliott's seat of Baulkham Hills will be abolished at the 2023 election and today he told the media he could not be "accommodated" in the new seat of Castle Hill.
He said he did not want to subject himself to a pre-selection battle that will likely see right-faction member Noel McCoy endorsed.
"It was quite clear there was no support for me in Castle Hill and I accept that," he said.
"You've got to take the ups and downs with the pre-selections and politics."
Mr Elliott, who was first elected to parliament in 2011, said it was disappointing he did not have factional support to run for Castle Hill and hit out at the Liberal Party and contemporary politics for being "transactional".
"Unfortunately, on occasions they [factions] are built around personalities and on this occasion for some strange reason my personality didn't play out.
"There's no doubt at all the community don't like factions in politics."
At the 2023 March election, Mr Elliott's seat of Baulkham Hills will be split and redistributed into Castle Hill, Epping and Kellyville.
Although he didn't have the factional support to run for Castle Hill, he ruled out running for Kellyville as it would have seen him contend against his factional ally Ray Williams.
"Whenever there's a redistribution it's like playing dice, you've just got to wait and see where the boundaries lie and on this occasion the boundaries didn't lie in my favour," Mr Elliott said.
Mr Elliot is the 11th member of the Coalition government to announce their retirement ahead of the upcoming state election but he is adamant there is nothing unusual about that.
"I know people are saying it's a high amount … but even when John Howard got elected in 1996 there were retirements from the Coalition."
Mr Elliott is close friends with Premier Dominic Perrottet, who said he tried hard last night to convince him to run again.
"[But] ultimately, you know, members of parliament serve for some time and serve the community with distinction and it's been a difficult time for many people across the state," he said.
The Premier said he was "not at all" concerned about the number of Liberals calling stumps on their political careers ahead of the March election.
"We see this at every election, members of parliament retire and I think that is healthy and important that new blood comes through," he said.
"I also think it's a positive thing that we have moved away from the past. If you look at the parliaments of 10 or 20 years ago, people stayed there until they were 60, 70, 80 years of age.
"I don't think that is in the best interests of a strong, robust democracy."
Mr Elliott, who has been a divisive and outspoken member since arriving on Macquarie Street, said he was now ready to move into the private sector.
"I think I've been active. Controversial and active," he said.
"I think I've taken advantage of every opportunity, I think I've made people know where I stand [but] I've made some mistakes."
He said from now until March he will be working to get the best concessions for veterans and resolving the ongoing battle with the Rail, Train and Bus Union which has seen months of industrial action on the train network.
Mr Elliot ruled out a tilt at federal politics this year but when asked whether he would reconsider after his retirement, he said his wife said he could not go unless it was under "strict adult supervision".
He said while he and his sons were often able to laugh in the face of criticism he attracted, his wife, Nicole, often took it personally.
"Her loyalty has been inspirational," he said.
