Federal independent MP Rob Oakeshott and New England independent MP Tony Windsor announced their retirement from politics.

Mr.Oakeshott said that his reason for retirement was that the moment to give his family undivided time has come.

Mr Windsor too said that his reasons for retiring from politics were for his family and his health conditions, but he did not give specific details.

Both MPs were recognised as the strongest supporters for Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Oakeshott, was instrumental for the development of the minority government for the Labor Party in the 2010 election. He held the NSW north-coast seat of Lyne for five years. He had became the youngest-serving MP in NSW office after winning the 1996 by-election for the seat of Port Macquerie for the National Party. He resigned from the party in 2002 and was re-elected for the NSW seat as independent in 2003.

He said that the fear of not winning the September election did not provoke his pronouncement of quitting politics. According to him, he was not blind that the past three years were difficult for his political career, but his critics were wrong to accuse him of backing away from another challenging election.

In an interview with the Macleay Argus, Mr Oakeshott said that "Now is the moment. I have done everything I said I was going to do and done the best I can. Those who throw opinions around and try to bully and push members of parliament from the sidelines - they're nothing."

As for his unyielding support for Ms Gillard and their work in the government, Mr Oakeshott said that "Living inside this extraordinary moment in time, where no one has got a manual on how it's meant to work in one of the most subjective professions there is called politics, we've all humans tried to make it work as best we can as humans and I'm pleased to say we've made," as quoted by ABC Television news.

The Man of Honour, Mr Windsor

Mr Windsor had announced his retirement tearfully in Canberra, but it was his colleagues who talked about him the most.

Mr Oakeshott said of Mr Windsor that "He is the man I consider the best in business. He is a man of humour, a man of smarts and he's got a little sprinkling of rat cunning, which is always useful in politics."

Ms Gillard herself said that millions of Australians will be saddened by the news of his retirement, "In the past three years he has earned the respect and affection of many Australians from all political persuasions."

Nationals Senator Bernaby Joyce had all the good words for retiring Mr Windsor, "When you are on the football paddock you always have immense respect for the toughest of players that you come across in politics. I respect Mr Windsor's decision and wish him and Lynn all best with their family. They do not come any tougher that the member for New England.At times, obviously, I questioned his mechanism, but today is his."