Seeing parents jailed drove me - Banks

John Banks announces yesterday that he will not stand again for Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Announcing his decision to leave Parliament, Act leader John Banks yesterday said his political career was partly driven by the experience of seeing his parents sentenced to prison in the High Court 50 years ago on abortion charges.

The same court effectively terminated that career this week when it said he should stand trial on electoral fraud charges.

"Half a century ago on a wet Friday afternoon, I witnessed my mother and father get sentenced to very long terms of prison and taken away," Mr Banks said, struggling to hold back tears.

"I stood outside the High Court on that Friday afternoon aged 17 absolutely committed to a lifetime of hard work, honest endeavour and public service to try and balance the family ledger."

View photos of Banksie through the years:

Image 1 of 10: John Banks announces he will resign as leader of the Act Party, 4 December 2013. Photo / Mark Mitchell

He defended himself as an honest man who would never make a false return of any kind but wouldn't talk about his looming trial - relating to his return of donations for his failed Super City mayoral campaign - except to say, "I'm not fearful of the process or where it ends."

Mr Banks ended his media conference with a dig at Conservative Party leader Colin Craig and his reluctance to dismiss conspiracy theories. "He's also unsure that Elvis is not dead."

That's a fitting comment for a man who is about to follow the King and leave the building.

Best cartoons of John Banks:

Image 1 of 24: Emmerson cartoon December 3, 2013. Illustration / Rod Emmerson