LNP backbencher farewells parliament

In his valedictory speech, Dr Laming detailed some of his proudest moments in parliament - and some self-confessed failures.

He recounted his challenge against then prime minister John Howard for Liberal party leadership in 2007 as "messy".

"I was tired of what was happening between Howard and (Peter) Costello and decided I would announce my leadership bid for the following day at party room," he said 

"I thought I'd run those lines past a group of staffers ... it was only later I was told one of the staffers in the group was John Howard's son." 

He called the Queensland LNP team a "rag tag band who do great stuff" in Canberra and said he had been an activist from the backbench.

"It is now this side of politics that is potentially the most progressive in reforming, rebuilding and re-imagining social policy," he said.