Controversial NSW upper house MP Reverend Fred Nile has announced his retirement after 41 years in parliament.
The 88-year-old is the longest serving MP in the NSW parliament and first entered the Legislative Council in 1981.
He has at times been an influential member and his vote has often been relied upon by the current Coalition government in the Upper House where there isn't a majority.
Mr Nile says he will now endorse his wife Silvana Nile to be the lead candidate for the Revive Australia Party (Fred Nile Alliance) in the March 2023 election.
"I would like to thank you for your support over these past 42 years and implore you to rally behind Silvana," Mr Nile said in a statement.
"I have no doubt that her passion, empathy, Christian values and Godliness will see Silvana continue my legacy in New South Wales State Parliament for many years to
come."
Reverend Nile founded the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) more than 20 years ago after already serving two terms in the Upper House.
After the party dissolved, he joined the Seniors United Party earlier this year — a decision he said was triggered by the NSW parliament passing voluntary assisted dying legislation.
He has been renowned for campaigning on social issues and has opposed gay marriage, gay adoption, Islamic face coverings and Muslim immigration.
Over his career he has also put forward legislation to lift the drinking age to 21 and force women who are thinking about abortions to view ultrasounds of their fetuses.
In 2017 he was denied a visa for former US president Donald Trump's inauguration after being deemed a security threat.
Mr Nile has always maintained his views are "mainstream" and he doesn't understand why people call him controversial.
"It always surprises me, because I'm the most non-controversial person you could get," he told the ABC in 2015.
"Everything I believe is just so — in my opinion — mainstream and ordinary."
Last year, he said the need for "unashamedly" Christian voices in public life had only increased.
Over his career he has held director positions with the Australian Christian Endeavour Movement, NSW Congregational Board of Evangelism and the Methodist Mission to the People of NSW.
Earlier this year, he formed an unlikely partnership with Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich to introduce a bill to protect Indigenous culture and heritage.
