ScoMo quits for global fortunes
Fourth by-election on way
Scott Morrison, who served as the 30th prime minister of Australia between 2018 and 2022, has confirmed he will resign from parliament, setting up a by-election a year out from the next federal election.
Speculation has been mounting since the Coalition’s loss at the May 2022 election that the Cook MP would resign, but Mr Morrison ended the rumours with a statement on Tuesday.
Taking to social media, Mr Morrison said that “after more than 16 years” serving the southern Sydney electorate, he had “decided to leave parliament” at the end of February to “take on new challenges in the global corporate sector and spend more time with my family”.
“I am extremely grateful to my family, friends, local community and local party members and supporters in Cook for their incredible support during this time, that has enabled me to serve my country at the highest level and make Australia a stronger, more secure and more prosperous country.
“It has been a great honour to serve as the Member for Cook and as prime minister,” he said.
Mr Morrison has reportedly told his Liberal colleagues of his intention to make a formal valedictory address to parliament when it resumes in early February before he retires.
Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce has been named as a potential candidate to replace Mr Morrison in Canberra once preselection opens.
First elected to the southern Sydney electorate in 2007, Mr Morrison entered cabinet as immigration minister in 2013, where he was responsible for Operation Sovereign Borders.
He was promoted to social services minister in late-2014, and then treasurer a year after under Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Morrison would go on to roll Mr Turnbull out of the top job.
During his tenure, Mr Morrison went on an infamous family holiday to Hawaii while parts of Australia were battered by bushfires in the 2019-20 summer.
Months later, Mr Morrison would begin steering Australia through the Covid-19 pandemic, forming national cabinet in the process.
He spent much of the months after the election loss in the spotlight after it was revealed that he had given himself control of five additional ministerial portfolios while prime minister, without the knowledge of the ministers.
In July, Mr Morrison was the subject of adverse findings in the Robodebt Royal Commission. He has denied wrongdoing. He was a key architect of the AUKUS trilateral defence pact with the US and the UK, which his colleagues say is his major legacy.
Mr Morrison’s retirement would mean the Opposition would face its fourth by-election since losing last May’s election, after former cabinet members Alan Tudge and Stuart Robert resigned from Aston and Fadden, respectively.
A third by-election in the seat of Dunkley will take place on March 2, after the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy following a battle with cancer.