'I left nothing on the field': Finance Minister Mathias Cormann announces he will QUIT politics
- Finance minister Mathias Cormann announced he will quit politics
- Mr Cormann is one of prime minister Scott Morrison's most senior ministers
- He said he had advised Mr Morrison of decision not to recontest next election
- 'I can honestly say that I have left nothing on the field,' Mr Cormann said
Finance minister Mathias Cormann has announced he will step down from politics at the end of the year.
Mr Cormann said in a statement he has already advised prime minister Scott Morrison of his decision not to recontest the next election.
'I love this job. Every single day I am giving it my all. I can honestly say that I have left nothing on the field,' he said in a statement.
'Having decided not to recontest the next election, I can confirm that I have advised the prime minister that the end of this year would be an appropriate time for an orderly transition in my portfolio.'
Mr Cormann has been a regular fixture in the political spotlight after he defended the $60 billion Jobkeeper cost bungle and was accused of 'blowing up' Malcolm Turnbull's government by the then-prime minister during the 2018 Liberal leadership spill.
One of Scott Morrison's most senior ministers, Mathias Cormann, is retiring from politics at the end of the year
Mr Cormann said in a statement he has already advised prime minister Scott Morrison of his decision not to recontest the next election
'I love this job. Every single day I am giving it my all. I can honestly say that I have left nothing on the field,' Mr Cormann said in a statement
Mr Cormann, who has been finance minister since 2013, entered federal politics in 2007 and became the government's upper house leader in 2017.
His decision to remove his support for Malcolm Turnbull and instead back Peter Dutton was seen as a major reason for the 2018 leadership coup that led to Scott Morrison becoming prime minister.
Mr Cormann thanked all Mr Morrison and his predecessors Tony Abbott and Mr Turnbull 'for the opportunities they have given me to serve.'
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'Having the opportunity to help shape the future direction of our country as part of a great team working to make our country even stronger, more prosperous and more resilient is a great honour,' he said.
Mr Cormann said he would spend the next six months working with the prime minister and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on finalising the July economic statement, the budget in October and the half-yearly budget update in December.
'Before handing over the baton, there is another six months or so of hard work to be done in this job, to help manage a responsible transition out of this coronavirus induced crisis and to help finalise and set in train our five-year plan to maximise the strength of our economic and jobs recovery.'
He would also continue to work to secure the passage of 'all of our important reform legislation through the parliament.'
The budget is usually delivered in May, but has been delayed until October because of the coronavirus.
Mr Cormann said he would spend the next six months working with the prime minister and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on finalising the July economic statement, the budget in October and the half-yearly budget update in December
Mr Cormann, 49, was born in Belgium and decided to migrate to Australia permanently after first visiting Perth in 1994, attracted by the great lifestyle and opportunities on offer in Western Australia
The government will also give an economic update on July 23 when the future of JobKeeper wage subsidies, the boosted dole and other support measures will be revealed.
Mr Cormann, 49, was born in Belgium and decided to migrate to Australia permanently after first visiting Perth in 1994, attracted by the great lifestyle and opportunities on offer in Western Australia.
He is married to Hayley and they have two daughters Isabelle and Charlotte.
There has been speculation he could take a job with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or other positions in his home town of Perth.
Mr Cormann has been a staunch supporter of the Liberal Party after joining the party in Western Australia in 1997.
He was elected senior vice president of the Perth division in 2000, state vice president in 2003, and state senior vice president in 2004.
He then represented Western Australia in the senate in 2007 and has held numerous positions such as Shadow of Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration and Shadow Minister for Employment Participation.
Mr Turnbull has accused Mr Cormann of 'blowing up' his government after he defected from the then-prime minister's group in favour of an 'an orderly transition to a new leader' in 2018.
Mr Cormann thanked all Mr Morrison and his predecessors Tony Abbott and Mr Turnbull 'for the opportunities they have given me to serve.'
Mr Turnbull has accused Mr Cormann of 'blowing up' his government after he defected from the then-prime minister's group in favour of an 'an orderly transition to a new leader' in 2018
The former prime minister claimed in his autobiography 'A Bigger Picture' the pair exchanged a series of text messages following the incident.
'I was not part of any planned conspiracy or insurgency. I genuinely backed you until events developed, sadly, which in my judgment made our position irretrievable. I immediately and honestly advised you directly,' Mr Cormann wrote.
Mr Turnbull responded: 'Mathias, at a time when strength and loyalty were called for, you were weak and treacherous. You should be ashamed of yourself.'
Mr Cormann has also been a regular fixture of the media, most recently condemning the latest Black Lives Matter protests in Australia during COVID-19.
'These sorts of mass gatherings, at a time when there are still severe restrictions all around Australia, on people generally, does expose our community to an unacceptable and unnecessary risk,' he told Today.
Mr Cormann has also been a regular fixture of the media, most recently condemning the latest Black Lives Matter protests in Australia during COVID-19
'These sorts of mass gatherings, at a time when there are still severe restrictions all around Australia, on people generally, does expose our community to an unacceptable and unnecessary risk,' Mr Cormann told Today as he openly condemned the Black Lives Matter protest during COVID-19
Mr Cormann also defended the $60 billion bungle in the cost of the Jobkeeper program.
The government estimated $130 billion would be needed to keep six million Australians employed, though figures later revealed it would only cost $70 billion as 2.9 million people were accessing the program.
Mr Cormann said the original projections were based on the worst case scenario.
More to come
