Mines and Petroleum, Fisheries and Electoral Affairs Minister, and Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Norman Moore has decided today to not seek pre-selection by the Liberal Party for the next State Election due in March 2013.

Mr Moore said that he will therefore retire from State Parliament on May 21, 2013 when his current Legislative Council term concludes.

“I will continue in my ministerial role with the intention of completing a number of important projects and reforms in my portfolios prior to the election, as well as working as hard as possible to assist in the re-election of the Liberal-National Government,” he said.

Mr Moore was first elected in 1977 and is the longest serving member of the State Parliament, having already served 34 years.

The Minister said today that while his enthusiasm for the job has never diminished, he was mindful that should he win pre-selection and complete a further Parliamentary term he would be 72-years-old, at the end of that term.

“As I have a number of other things to do in life after Parliament, it seems appropriate to retire on May 21, 2013,” he said.

Mr Moore said that he was particularly grateful to the Liberal Party for giving him the opportunity to serve in the State Parliament for so many years.

“By May 2013, I will have had a pretty good innings.”