Craig Laundy had been to Canberra once before he was elected to federal parliament six years ago.
The visit was part of a primary school excursion.
He owned one suit - in a charcoal colour appropriate for weddings and funerals - and was not one for wearing a tie.
"In a punch up, they're deadly...that's where I come from," the outgoing Member for Reid, in Sydney's inner-west, told parliament on Thursday.
Mr Laundy, who is retiring at the upcoming federal election, said those factors are among evidence of his complete lack of a political background before he became an MP.
The staff at Canberra's Parliament House helped him significantly to adjust to his new life in 2013.
"I was so green it ain't funny, and they have been so, so good to me."
Mr Laundy has been a strong supporter of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, a personal friend.
Under Mr Turnbull's leadership he joined the frontbench as assistant minister for multicultural affairs.
He went on to become assistant minister for industry, innovation and science and minister for small and family business, the workplace and regulation.
Mr Laundy knocked back the opportunity to remain a minister when Scott Morrison took over the top job.
The outgoing MP says he's proud of what the coalition has helped to achieve in his community, including major infrastructure projects.
One of his greatest highlights was working to change the way businesses communicate with the government using technology, a project he had pitched directly to Mr Turnbull.
The son of a publican is also glad the government was able to get all children out of offshore detention at Nauru.
Mr Laundy, who worked in his family's hotel business before joining politics, said being away from his family hasn't been easy and neither was watching Mr Turnbull lose his leadership.
"What happened in August last year was tough."
For that reason, he's excited to come home.
But he borrowed a line from his father's favourite song to describe how he will view the years behind him.
"The record shows I took the blows and did it my way."
