The father of the LNP and three-time leader of the party has announced he won't contest the next state election.
Lawrence Springborg, who played a leading role in creating the Liberal National Party merger, broke the news to members of his Southern Downs branch on Saturday.
The former leader lost out to Tim Nicholls in a leadership spill in May and was installed as chair of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee soon after.
Mr Springborg said he wanted to leave while he still had a sense of "political passion".
"After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have this morning informed Local LNP Party Members of my decision not to re-contest Southern Downs at the next state election due in early 2018," he said.
"I have also informed state party president Gary Spence and parliamentary leader Tim Nicholls of this decision.
"These are never easy decisions, but I believe that it is the right decision on balance."
"I have been very privileged to be given such an opportunity by the people of Southern Downs, to be their parliamentary representative.
"The Southern Downs is the place I have always called home and a place where my family have lived and worked for five generations.
Mr Springborg was forced to rule out a move to federal politics after Maranoa MP Bruce Scott announced his impending retirement last year.
His decision to leave state politics would likely own fuel speculation of a change of political arena.
The 48-year-old said the decision gave the right amount of time for local party members to select another candidate and reflected on his legacy in a statement issued on Saturday afternoon.
"Ten terms ago, following my first election, I stood in the Queensland Parliament and made my maiden speech," he said, in a statement.
"I outlined my values, beliefs and aspirations, founded on principles of individual liverty and responsibility, small government, lower taxation, enterprise and aspiration, underpinned by a belief in private property rights and the rule of law and family. Thos beliefs have not changed.
"I said in that speech that if I could enjoy 15 years representing the people of my electorate and Queensland, it may be time to pull up stumps. Yesterday, that 15 years turned into 27 years.
"I know it is time, to close this chapter of my political and public life and move onto the next one, whatever that may be."
Mr Springborg's replacement, Mr Nicholls, hailed him as a "mentor and a friend" while LNP president Gary Spence greeted the news with "great sadness".
"Lawrence has been a leading figure in Queensland politics since he was first elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1989," he said.
"He has held a number of portfolios, both during times in opposition and in government and lead the opposition four times during his career.
"Indeed, there would be few, if any parliamentarians, who could match Lawrence's record and breadth of experience."
Mr Spence said the former leader's "foresight and determination" to forge the LNP would be was his greatest contribution to Queensland politics.
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