Ferguson announces retirement from politics Martin Ferguson to resign Former resources minister Martin Ferguson delivers an emotional speech announcing he will retire from Parliament at the upcoming election, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott respond. Labor stalwart Martin Ferguson has told parliament that he will retire at the September 14 election. Mr Ferguson, who has held the seat of Batman in Victoria since 1996, addressed the House in his "first and last speech as a backbencher." Labor MP Martin Ferguson tells parliament he won't context the September election. Formerly the minister for resources, Mr Ferguson stepped down in March following the Labor leadership spill. Mr Ferguson said that his decision on Wednesday was a "personal" one. He said the timing was appropriate and was "in the best interests of my party and my family." He noted that before he resigned from cabinet this year he had served continuously as a shadow minister and then minister. He cited continued economic growth, Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generations, and the looming introduction of the national disability insurance scheme as key Labor achievements. "We have had 21 years of continuous growth in this country and we should never forget that as a nation," he said. A Rudd backer, Mr Ferguson said he resigned from his cabinet post after the leadership spill because he thought it was the honourable thing to do. At the time, he praised former Labor leader Simon Crean's courage for calling for the leadership spill that former prime minister Kevin Rudd ultimately did not contest. As a result of the spill, five Labor frontbenchers, including Mr Crean and Mr Ferguson were either sacked or quit their posts. Mr Ferguson joins several other high-profile Labor MPs who have announced they won't contest the election, including Nicola Roxon, Chris Evans, Harry Jenkins and Robert McClelland. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Mr Ferguson could leave parliament knowing he had been part of a number of great Labor achievements, including nurturing Australia's resources sector and seeing the country through the global financial crisis. "It is a very proud track record of achievement," she said. Ms Gillard said Mr Ferguson would go with the thanks of the Labor Party - who would mark his career at a separate occasion. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott appeared emotional at times when farewelling Mr Ferguson, calling the retiring MP "Labor Party royalty." It is a sad day for the parliament, a sad day for the Labor party and a sad day for the country that someone of the Member for Batman's stature is choosing to serve our country in a different capacity. Mr Abbott said that Mr Ferguson was "steeped" in the Australian parliament and its traditions. In a speech that recalled his career as both a union leader and politician, Mr Ferguson said "my main motivation has been to get Australians into decent, well-paying jobs. This is what the Labor Party means to me. He said that creating opportunities by working with business was not the same thing as "pointless class rhetoric," he said. We need to grow the pie to share it. Along with his former department and staff, Mr Ferguson also thanked his family, including his wife and children. He choked back tears as he remembered his parents, Jack and Mary, who had attended his swearing-in ceremony in 1996 but who have since passed away. "Thank you for the wonderful start you gave me in life and the love and support you gave me throughout my life," he said. Mr Ferguson's brother Laurie, who is the member for Werriwa, was also in the chamber to hear the speech. Following the speeches, MPs from both sides of the chamber lined up to congratulate Mr Ferguson. This included hugs from Mr Rudd and Mr Ferguson's successor as Resources Minister, Gary Gray. In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Rudd praised his former minister as "unique" and one of the "most outstanding" ministers of his government. Mr Rudd described Mr Ferguson as "the most respected resources and energy minister in Australian history, someone who always knows his stuff and one of the world's genuinely good human beings." Before entering parliament, Mr Ferguson was president and vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions and spent 15 years with the then Miscellaneous Workers' Union. He was minister for resources, energy and tourism from Labor's election in 2007 until March this year. In opposition, Mr Ferguson held a variety of shadow portfolios including employment, regional development, infrastructure, transport and resources. with Daniel Hurst