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Another senior Liberal from the Howard era has stepped aside to make way for new blood as the fallout from the coalition's election drubbing continues.
Philip Ruddock yesterday declared he would not be available to serve on the opposition front bench, joining former Treasurer Peter Costello and ex-Foreign Minister Alexander Downer as senior MPs who will no longer figure in the Liberals' upper echelons.
"While my background and experience would be helpful at this time, it is questionable whether those attributes would be as sustainable in three years' time," Ruddock said.
Although he planned to remain as member for the Sydney seat of Berowra, Ruddock said in time he would like to pursue "other opportunities outside Parliament" and help to mentor his younger colleagues.
Ruddock, 64, served as Attorney-General and Immigration Minister for many years and entered Parliament in 1973 - a year before John Howard.
He was best known for the Pacific solution of detaining asylum seekers on remote islands - where some were kept for years.
- AAP