After more than two-and-a-half decades in federal politics, Christopher Pyne is expected to retire at the next election.

Mr. Pyne has represented Sturt outside Adelaide since 1993.  For the past decade has become an increasingly important and high-profile member of the Liberals, a Defense Minister who puts in weekly appearances on Channel Nine's Today Show with Labor's Anthony Albanese.  Pyne is a moderate who stood by then-PM Malcolm Turnbull during the unsuccessful leadership challenge from from Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

That spill ultimately ended Malcolm's political career, and led Julie Bishop to announce she was leaving at the next election.  And now has claimed  Mr. Pyne, who at a spry age 51 could have stayed in government for many years to come. 

Fellow ministers Kelly O'Dwyer, Michael Keenan, and Nigel Scullion are also leaving politics.  The ABC rpeorts that Steve Ciobo is expected to also announce his retirement tomorrow.