Federal coalition MPs considering stepping down ahead of this year’s election are being urged to consider the effect their choices could have on the government’s chances of re-election.

Former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson made the appeal in The Australian on Monday after three government ministers within the space of a week revealed they would step down at the next poll.

“I deeply believe that members of the coalition should consider very carefully what they should do, as well as what they would like to do,” Mr Anderson told the paper.

He said the departures of experienced MPs would further weaken the government as Australians face a “very stark political choice” between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Bill Shorten.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion, 62, on Saturday became the latest to reveal he would not contest the next election, believing it’s simply time for him to go after being in Parliament since 2001.

That came after Human Services Minister Michael Keenan, 46, said on Friday he wouldn’t be running again to spend more time with his wife and four children aged between six months and seven.

Industrial Affairs Minister Kelly O’Dwyer, 41, announced her retirement plans for family reasons the week before.

Education Minister Dan Tehan says he is not expecting any more of his colleagues to go.

“My expectation is that everyone who hasn’t announced their retirement will now be going forward to the next election,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

Meanwhile, News Corp reports Liberal-turned-Independent MP Julia Banks is considering running against Health Minister Greg Hunt in his Victorian seat of Flinders.