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Rob Oakeshott Says 'Politics Is Still In My Blood' As He Stands For Parliament Again

The MP resigned in 2013.
Former Independent Rob Oakeshott.
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Former Independent Rob Oakeshott.

Former Independent Rob Oakeshott has announced a political comeback, confirming he will contest the New South Wales seat of Cowper in the 2016 election.

Oakeshott, one of the Independent MPs who famously helped Julia Gillard's Labor form a minority government, resigned from Parliament in 2013.

The former Member for Lyne will now nominate for Cowper, because the electoral boundaries have moved and he wants to run for the seat in which he lives.

Announcing his return to politics on social media, Oakeshott said he was nominated through the normal rules of the Australian Electoral Commission.

"In 2013, I didn't think I would ever want to see politics again. I was hoping the local MP's for the area would continue building on the community work around Education and Health, and that they would continue to focus on the many disadvantaged communities of our region," Oakeshott wrote in a Facebook post.

"I was hopeful the Parliament would progress on areas of pre-election promised reform, such as comprehensive tax reform, and constitutional recognition of first Australia. Sadly, both promises have failed or 'flat-lined' over the past three years.

"Over time, I realised I had more to give, and the politics was still in my blood. I believe the representation of the Mid-North Coast is currently poor, and I strongly believe I can do better for all of us. Because of this, I feel an obligation to stand, and to allow voters the choice to either agree or disagree."

Oakshott, who was the Member for Lyne for five years said he was not contesting his former seat as a change to "the boundaries of electorates" have moved his Port Macquarie home into the Cowper electorate.

After helping form Gillard's minority government -- which involved deals with Independents and the Greens -- Oakshott said Malcolm Turnbull would have "first go" forming government.

"I would not block his efforts to do so, and would accept his phone call if he wanted to formalise something in more detail."

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