Independent South Coast MLC Justin Field has confirmed he will not contest the next New South Wales election and is urging an independent candidate from the community to come forward.
Mr Field said after years of driving to Sydney from Ulladulla — where his family is based — he realised it was time for a change.
"I've got a six-year-old now, and there's a lot of time on the road, and I want to spend more time in my community, at home and with my family," he said.
"I need a break. I'm not sure that I've got the energy for a campaign, and I'm looking for a different direction for myself — at least for the moment."
Mr Field entered the state's Legislative Council, in the NSW Upper House, in August 2016, filling a casual vacancy caused by the death of Greens MLC John Kaye.
In 2019, he left the Greens because of concerns about internal division and "hyper-partisanship".
State's environment a 'train wreck'
Over the last four years, Mr Field sat on the crossbench as an independent, pursuing issues regarding natural resources management and biodiversity.
In parliament last week, Mr Field joined a Matter of Public Importance debate brought on by Greens MLC Sue Higginson on the effectiveness of the state's biodiversity scheme.
A recent Auditor General's report found the scheme was failing to protect some of the state's most endangered species and was riddled with integrity and transparency concerns.
"It has been a fast-moving train wreck, watching the way in which this government has allowed the destruction of nature in NSW," he told parliament.
"There is not one bright spot on the horizon when it comes to the protection of biodiversity from my perspective with this government."
During the debate, Coalition minister Ben Franklin defended the government's environmental legacy and said improvements were being made to the scheme while acknowledging biodiversity in NSW was at "significant risk".
Battle for the South Coast
Liberal MP for the South Coast Shelley Hancock has announced her intention to retire at the election.
Ms Hancock holds the seat by a 10.6 per cent margin and analysts predict the Liberals will likely hold the seat at the March election.
However, some suggest her retirement could put the seat in play.
The Liberal party confirmed two people had submitted nominations for the seat: small business and charity owner Jemma Tribe and former staffer for Ms Hancock and charity worker Luke Sikora.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley was also confirmed as the Greens candidate for the seat.
Field makes case for community independent
Mr Field said many people had contacted him asking him to stand as an independent, and while it was not his intention, he believed the South Coast and other regional seats would be a good fit for a community independent.
"Before you find that right person, it requires a community that would want to come together and decide they want to back an independent community campaign," he said.
"We saw how successful that was and how quickly that changed the debate and the nature of legislation around climate and integrity [in federal parliament]. Both of those issues are at play at the state election."
Mr Field pointed to community independent campaigns already underway in Lane Cove, North Sydney, Manly, Wakehurst, Pittwater and Vaucluse.
"It's highly likely that the crossbench will be in the balance of power after the next state election, and we can help do that on the South Coast," he said.
"I think the environment and the ground is ripe for an independent community movement, and this seat does have that history in the independent John Hatton."
Known for his anti-corruption campaigning, Mr Hatton held the seat from 1973 to 1995.
