Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will face another test of the coalition’s popularity at an upcoming by-election triggered by the announcement of retiring Liberal Stuart Robert.
Mr Robert on Saturday morning announced he would retire from politics, saying he wanted to focus on family after 16 years in politics.
Controversies in office
Mr Robert's time in politics hasn't been without controversies.
He fronted the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme in March, where he admitted he had personal doubts about the way debts were being calculated.
Mr Robert said he continued to publicly back the Centrelink scheme due to his obligations as a cabinet minister.
Several years ago, he was forced to return an expensive Rolex timepiece given to him by a Chinese billionaire.
He also repaid $38,000 to the government for excessive home internet bills.
The amount he charged taxpayers was almost double the cost of the Cartier watches bought by Australia Post amid the controversy over the Christine Holgate saga.
Stuart Robert calls for more civility in parliament
In his retirement statement, the Liberal MP maintained he was proud of what he had achieved in politics, saying it had been a privilege to serve the Australian people.
He also called for a more civil federal parliament.
"I do fear division has well and truly entrenched itself in the current parliament," Mr Robert said. "A kinder and gentler parliament it is not."
Mr Robert's retirement will trigger a federal by-election in the seat of Fadden in Queensland.
It will be another test for the federal opposition, who lost the Aston by-election in Victoria earlier this year.
was considered a major blow to the coalition. It saw a government win a seat off the opposition at a by-election for the first time in more than 100 years.
The latest Resolve Strategic poll, published by the Nine newspapers, showed Mr Dutton's personal approval rating fall from minus 11 to minus 28, the lowest figure since he became opposition leader.
Mr Dutton said the Liberal party would chose a strong Liberal candidate to contest the seat of Fadden.
"We should be in that seat, frankly, preselecting somebody who can be a future cabinet minister or a leader of our party," he said on Saturday.
"So, we will work hard with the LNP in Queensland to make sure that we do win."
