Tanya Plibersek hears the news of Stephen Conroy’s retirement live on TV.

About 8.53 Thursday night, Senator Conroy tabled a speech, saying he didn’t want to take up debate time by reading it out.

It was only when Hansard was made available about 10 this morning that the tabled speech was available. It was about Stephen Conroy giving his notice.

Labor’s Senate Leader Penny Wong didn’t know her deputy was resigning.

Tanya Plibersek is blindsided by the news of Stephen Conroy’s resignation during a live press conference.Source:Twitter

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek was similarly blindsided. She was giving a press conference this morning when a reporter asked her about the news. Her awkward reply made it clear she had no idea about the resignation.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is in Canada. He received a text message from Senator Conroy but was not able to speak to him until this morning.

After 20 years in Parliament and longer as an ALP right warrior, Senator Conroy wanted to leave to head an unidentified industry group and to spend more time with his family, Labor sources said today.

“There is no scandal, no health crisis,” one source said.

The London-born senator said in his speech: “You should always go out on top. This week as captain of the parliamentary soccer team I scored a hat trick. It must be time to say farewell.

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

Senator Stephen Conroy’s retirement caught his party by surprise.Source:News Corp Australia

Senator Conroy was re-elected in the double dissolution poll, but sources said he wanted to help with selection of a new ALP national secretary, and creation of the new Labor frontbench.

His speech praised Mr Shorten, Ms Plibersek, Jenny Macklin, Wayne Swan and former prime minister Julia Gillard.

And even left-wing factional foe Kim Carr was saluted.

“Much maligned, a passionate advocate for unfashionable economic policies but a Labor warrior,” Senator Carr wrote.

“If there was a tough battle in the Senate and you needed a wingman, you would always want Kim Carr next to you.

“People have always misunderstood our relationship. It is based on two simple things, trust and mutual respect. In the 25 years I have worked with, fought with and struggled together with, Kim Carr has never broke his word.”

His most glowing references were to wife Paula Benson and nine-year-old daughter Isabella.

“It is often commented that Isabella has me wrapped around her little finger, but who could not be when confronted by such a smart, kind, considerate, funny and loving, no longer little girl,” he wrote.

“She increasingly misses me when I can’t be at soccer training or a match. She would love me to attend at least one assembly a year and be there when she gets an award.

“I often reflect on when I was a kid, how my father who worked shifts at (shipping container business) ICL would never miss a single soccer match from the under 11s to the under 21s. Week in, week out.

“You never appreciate it at the time but you realise much later how special it was. I always vowed that I would be there for Isabella like my dad was for me.

“At Father’s Day at her school recently, Bella had to write about her dad. She wrote that she loved it when her dad taught her new 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.”

In a statement, Mr Shorten thanked Senator Conroy — “one of my oldest friends” — and said he had relished every challenge put to him: as a Cabinet and shadow cabinet minister, as leader and deputy leader in the Senate.

“In particular, his vision for a first-rate, fibre National Broadband Network for Australia speaks for his deeply held passion for using technology to grow our economy and serve the interests of working people,” he said.

“As a firm believer in accountability and the public interest, Stephen has been a formidable presence on both sides of the Estimates table.

“Public servants and parliamentarians alike quickly learned to respect Stephen’s forensic skills and forthright style.

“And of course, no one has taken parliamentary soccer more seriously, or enjoyed scoring goals against the press gallery more.

“All our families make tremendous sacrifices so we can enjoy the privilege of serving in the parliament. I have spoken to Stephen and he told me he has decided it is time to put his wife and daughter, who he loves so much, first. I admire and respect his decision.”