Kim Carr retiring from Senate at election

He said being given the responsibility of representing the people of Victoria in the Senate has been an immense honour and privilege.

"The Labor Party's mission to create a fairer Australia never ends and while I would have liked to have continued to pursue it in the Parliament, issues with my health have made that inadvisable," Senator Carr said in a statement on Sunday.

"In light of recent tragic developments, and following determined urgings from my children, I concluded that it was time for me to reassess my priorities."

Senator Carr's retirement comes just weeks after the death of another Victorian senator Kimberley Kitching, who died aged 52.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Senator Carr, who served as a minister in both the Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard Governments.

"Kim Carr has been a tireless advocate for the cause of Labor during his three decades of service in our nation's parliament," Mr Albanese said in a statement on Sunday.

"The parliament has had no stronger supporter of Australian manufacturing and science than Kim Carr."

Mr Albanese said the senator also played a leading role as a long-term member of the ALP national executive.

"Kim has always been a passionate and resolute campaigner for the Labor Party and the union movement's push to ensure workers' rights at work are respected," he said.

Labor's leader in the Senate Penny Wong said it was fitting Senator Carr had filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Button, Australia's pre-eminent industry minister.

Senator Carr served as minister for innovation, industry, science and research, minister for manufacturing, minister for defence material, minister for human services and minister for higher education.

"In more recent years, Senator Carr has been an invaluable contributor to the Labor opposition under Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese," Senator Wong said in a statement.