Outgoing Attorney-General George Brandis will move to London in the new year to replace Alexander Downer as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Mr Brandis tells Chris Kenny leaving Australian politics was his decision.

“One of the problems with this profession is that often people get so addicted to it they hang around too long.

“I decided years ago that once I reached 60 I would be looking for an opportunity to bring my parliamentary career to a close.”

Mr Brandis says he is “delighted to serve the Australian people in a new capacity”.

The retiring Attorney General also commented on Pauline Hanson’s burqa “stunt” earlier in the year.

“What Pauline was doing when she performed that stunt was to try and incite negative sentiment towards Muslim Australians. I think that was a terrible thing to do and I don’t think I overreacted.”

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