Qld Labor senator Claire Moore to retire

Veteran Labor senator Claire Moore will retire from parliament at the next federal election, having represented Queensland for almost two decades.

First elected to the Senate in 2001, she has most recently been Labor's spokeswoman on international development and the Pacific.

"It has been a real honour and a genuine pleasure to represent the people of Queensland in the Senate," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Labor leader Bill Shorten congratulated Senator Moore on her service to Labor and the people of Queensland.

"Claire has been a champion for regional Queensland, for the rights of women, for the status and pay of carers and a tireless warrior against poverty and disadvantage, here in Australia and around the world," Mr Shorten said.

"Claire will leave the Senate with the warm wishes of her colleagues and with a proud record of bringing attention to causes and communities that can sometimes be overlooked, or forgotten in daily political combat."