Nationals North West Central MP Vince Catania shocked the political landscape by announcing his retirement from politics after 17 years.

The popular and fiery MP exited with dignity, refusing to respond on 6PR Mornings to criticism of his loyalty from Labor’s Education Minister Sue Ellery today.

Catania was the youngest ever elected member of Legislative Council at age 28 for Labor, in 2008, before joining the National Party in 2009.

One of only six Liberal-National Alliance MPs elected to the Legislative Assembly and one of the National’s best performers in Parliament, Catania’s shock decision means a by-election in the state’s biggest regional electorate, which will test public sentiment of the McGowan government.

He told Liam Bartlett on Friday it was time to exit politics so he could spend more time with his family and five teenage kids.

“It’s a sad day but an exciting door opens, whatever it brings into the future, a new chapter to my life,” he told Bartlett.

“I’ve got no fuel left in the tank to service the largest electorate in Western Australia.”

Press PLAY below to hear Vince Catania’s full interview with Liam Bartlett on Mornings