Mike Kelly calls time on federal politics

Departing Labor MP Mike Kelly epitomised decency in politics to the end.

The towering figure with a trademark moustache announced on Thursday he would quit federal parliament after switching from the army to politics in 2007.

An internationally respected military lawyer, Kelly finished his 20-year career as a colonel.

He entered politics as a fierce critic of incompetent leadership in Iraq, accusing Australia and its allies of pouring kerosene on the security situation in the war-torn nation.

As Kevin Rudd swept to power, Kelly clinched the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro with a 6.6 per cent swing to Labor.

After serving in parliamentary secretary roles, Julia Gillard elevated Kelly to the outer ministry as junior defence minister as Labor's electoral stocks were plummeting in early 2013.

Rudd anointed Kelly as Labor's next defence minister during the 2013 election campaign, but it was never likely to be as Tony Abbott lived up to his popularity.

Kelly lost his seat before reclaiming it in 2016, the first time it didn't fall to the election-winning party in 44 years.

More recently he sat on parliament's powerful intelligence and security committee while also doing bipartisan work on suicide prevention.

The 60-year-old leaves parliament with rare respect and admiration from across the political divide.

His decency was on show as he kicked off his resignation media conference by apologising for distracting from the coronavirus crisis.

Kelly reflected on staring into the true face of evil as he considered his lack of political enemies after a decade in parliament.

"Whether it was genocidal warlords in Somalia or murdering militia in Timor or war criminals in Bosnia or staring into Saddam Hussein's face and the dirty dozen, so-called, in Iraq," he said on Thursday.

"So it kept me in the situation where I had a good perspective on all of this."

Serving as an army lawyer in Somalia in 1993, he was involved in prosecuting blood-drenched bandit Hussan Gutaale Abdul, who was sentenced to death.

When Gutaale tried to flee, Kelly subdued him while warding off the warlord's supporters with his bayonet.

In 2004, Kelly warned the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Australian Wheat Board officials were paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein's government.

His military service eventually ended his political career, with the toll of severe dehydration during various campaigns causing serious kidney issues, warranting 10 surgeries and other procedures since last year.

Kelly broke down as he spoke about his family's support, shooting down one of the many military analogies overused in politics.

He said they weren't conscripts but willing servants of the nation - a role he's filled for most of his life.