Former Coalition frontbencher Sophie Mirabella says she's finished in frontline politics and will turn her focus to being a commentator.
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Speaking after her second consecutive defeat in the Victorian seat of Indi, the conservative Liberal blamed unions, activist groups and "Melbourne-based feminists" for her loss on July 2, as independent MP Cathy McGowan recorded a 4.5 per cent swing in the regional seat.
"I'll always have an interest and I will always support good people because I think that's important but it's time to think of my family and to do other stuff," Mrs Mirabella told Sky on Monday night.
"I'm young. I've got a lot of experience, a lot of skills and I'll be on this side and be a commentator rather than a participant."
Mrs Mirabella was a shock loss for the Liberals in the 2013 election and was considered unlikely to win in the seat this year.
Her rocky campaign included denials she shoved Ms McGowan in a photo with federal Liberal MP Ken Wyatt and controversial comments that her 2013 defeat meant a $10 million funding commitment to the Wangaratta Hospital was dropped.
She told conservative commentator Andrew Bolt that running again hadn't been harder after her first defeat.
"When the left-wing media, and GetUp! and the unions get together with the Melbourne-based feminists to have a go at you and they've had a go at you, what more can they do?" Mrs Mirabella said.
"It's about resilience. We did an analysis and we did polling, and it was in the interest of the party that I stood because it added to the vote.
"When you're running against an independent who appears to have no political allegiances, even though they vote with the left, you really do need that experience, that corporate knowledge and that name recognition to maximise the Liberal vote."
Earlier this month, with the 2016 election result up in the balance, Ms McGowan agreed to give Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull support on matters of supply and confidence.
Mrs Mirabella first entered Parliament in 2001 and is closely aligned with former prime minister Tony Abbott and other conservative Liberals.
In December 2013 after the election defeat, the Abbott government named her as a director of ASC Pty Ltd, formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation.
She declined to comment further to Fairfax Media on Tuesday.
She used the Sky interview to back Mr Abbott on his decision to stay in Parliament.
"Even in the days before Machiavelli, there's always a competitive tension in politics," she said.
"And Tony Abbott, yes he's a very experienced politician, and whether he's on the frontbench or whether he's on the backbench, he will make a contribution to public debate.
"In many ways, being on the backbench and with the status he has as a former prime minister, gives him a bigger voice."
