Norman Moore announces retirement

Parliament’s longest-serving MP, Mines Minister Norman Moore, will retire at the 2013 election after deciding not to seek preselection for another term in the Upper House.

Mr Moore, who was elected in 1977 and will retire after 36 years service to the Liberal Party, said he would have had “a pretty good innings” by the time he stood down.

The Mining and Pastoral Region MP said he would be working hard to complete projects and reforms in his portfolios of mining and fisheries.

The 66-year-old, whose longevity has been the subject of humour inside and out of parliament, said he hated being referred to as a “veteran MP”.

“I don’t feel that way,” he said. “I think people my age would be offended to be referred to that way, we are just people doing our jobs.”

Mr Moore nominated travel, golf and developing his property as projects to occupy him during retirement, but stressed he planned to work hard for another year to get the Barnett Government re-elected.