Labor Senator Stephen Conroy has announced his shock resignation from parliament.

He tabled a speech in the Senate at 9pm AEST yesterday which began: “You should always go out on top ... it must be time to say farewell.”

The senator went on to say how his nine-year-old daughter, Isabella, was missing her father more as time went on.

“She increasingly misses me when I can’t be at soccer training or a match... I always vowed that I would be there for Isabella like my dad was for me,” he wrote.

Senator Conroy has represented Victoria in the Senate since 1996 and served as communications minister from 2007 to 2013.

But it was news to Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek.

“I have only just heard of these reports,” she told reporters in Sydney.

“I will have more discussions with Stephen later in the day.”

Senator Stephen Conroy has announced he will quit politics to spend more time with his daughter, Isabella. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

Senator Conroy tabled his resignation speech to the Senate during the debate on the Omnibus Bill last night but did not read it out.

The senator made a short contribution but then said he would table the rest of his speech as it was getting “very late”.

The NSW Nationals criticised the way in which Senator Conroy chose to resign.

In a tweet featuring video of Ms Plibersek not being aware of the resignation, the party said: “When you haven’t bothered to show up to work and everyone knows you’ve quit but your boss.”

THE UNREAD RESIGNATION

“You should always go out on top,” the speech began.

“This week as captain of the parliamentary soccer team I scored a hat trick. It must be time to say farewell.”

The Victorian senator and Chelsea supporter said he wanted to spend more time teaching his daughter Isabella soccer tricks.

“When you resent being in Canberra because you are missing your daughter’s soccer training it is time to retire from the Federal Parliament.”

“It is also the intangibles — coping with the coverage in the media, especially as the 24/7 media cycle has changed the nature of political discourse. Noting the glances and scowls as you walk down the street together.

Explaining to my young daughter why people have shouted abuse at her Daddy in the street.

Senator Conroy, who entered the Senate in 1996, was communications minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments and has been a key Right faction ally of Bill Shorten.

The National Broadband Network had been his “greatest contribution”, but he also took credit for the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

“I take pride in the fact that without my active support it would not have passed into law,” he said.

He paid tribute to former prime minister Julia Gillard as well as sitting members Wayne Swan, Jenny Macklin and Ms Plibersek.

A copy of a speech by Senator Stephen Conroy incorporated into the Senate handsard at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, Sept 16, 2016. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

“I will miss my friends and colleagues terribly — our Saturday morning chats, our Sunday night plane trips, our Wednesday night dinners. All made the burden of being away from our families a little more bearable.”

He and Mr Shorten had been “friends, rivals and frenemies” but the leader should never be underestimated.

“As Opposition Leader, Bill has shown what I have always known — he is a resilient, smart, warm man of the people and for the people. He is Australia’s prime minister in waiting. I’m sorry I will not be alongside you in the Federal Parliament as you take your place in history.”

Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albananese said he was not surprised by the decision and had spoken with Senator Conroy this morning.

Federal Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Anthony Albanese described Senator Conroy as a “giant of modern Labor. Picture: News CorpSource:News Corp Australia

“I know how much all of us miss our families. We give up a lot by entering into either the House of Representatives or the Senate,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra.

“I know that the greatest joy in Stephen’s life has been the arrival of Bella and he will now have more time to spend with his wife and daughter.”

He paid tribute to the former minister who had an “outstanding legacy”.

Senator Stephen Conroy tabled his resignation speech in Parliament last night but didn’t read it out.Source:News Corp Australia

Senator Conroy is expected to formally resign on September 30 and won’t return for the next sitting of parliament starting on October 10.

“I am certainly not surprised by this,” he said.

“Stephen has always treated the party with respect ... he has been a giant of modern Labor in the last 20 years. Stephen Conroy has been an outstanding senator.

“I look forward to continuing to be a friend of his over the years.”

When asked about why the senator didn’t address media, Mr Albanese said, “That’s tough”.