Voters doubt retiring MP's motive, poll says

A poll on Federal Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis has revealed a large number of respondents in her own electorate believe the real reason she resigned was because she was going to lose at the next election.

Ms Sudmalis announced in September she would not re-contest her marginal NSW seat of Gilmore, due to what she said was branch-stacking.

She also made claims of bullying at a state level.

But more than three quarters of respondents to a poll conducted by an industry group, and seen by 9NEWS, did not believe that was the real reason.

A total of 48.8 percent thought it was because she was destined to lose.

Ms Sudmalis held Gilmore by less than one percent.

Almost 20 percent believe Ms Sudmalis resigned because of instability in the government.

While eight percent thought she was bullied by the media.

23.3 percent indicated they felt she was quitting because of bullying party members.

The poll was conducted at the end of October.

Ms Sudmalis is currently on secondment to the United Nations in New York, along with fellow retiring MP, Labor's Jenny Macklin.