processing of asylum seekers to nations that had signed the convention was defeated. The Oakeshott bill was not passed by the Senate. Retirement Oakeshott retired from politics prior to the 2013 federal election, and did not contest his seat. It was subsequently won by the National Party candidate David Gillespie. Comeback In June 2016, Oakeshott announced his candidacy for a return to federal politics at the federal election on 2 July. He ran as an independent in Cowper, which now includes Port Macquarie following a redistribution. Multiple seat-level opinion polls in the seat of Cowper found incumbent National Luke Hartsuyker and Oakeshott neck and neck on the two-party vote. While Hartsuyker retained the seat, Oakeshott reduced the National majority from a comfortably safe 13.1 percent to a marginal 4.5 percent. In January 2019, Oakeshott announced he would stand again in Cowper at the 2019 Australian federal election. He was unsuccessful in his bid to win the seat. In October 2021 Oakeshott was named as an advisor for climate fund, Climate 200. Post-politics In 2017, Oakeshott was among the first batch of students to begin studying a undergraduate medical degree at University of New South Wales's new Rural Clinical School Campus in Port Macquarie. He graduated in November 2022. Oakeshott said he aimed to work as a regional general practitioner in the Port Macquarie area. Private life In May 2012, Oakeshott revealed that he suffers from Graves' disease. References External links Rob Oakeshott official website 1969 births Living people Independent members of the Parliament of New South Wales National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales Australian republicans Independent members of the Parliament of Australia Macquarie Law School alumni Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Lyne People from Lismore, New South Wales University of Sydney alumni People educated at Barker College 20th-century Australian politicians 21st-century Australian politicians University of Wollongong alumni