It is said that a " job for life " concept ended decades ago and the average person can now expect to retrain for a new career several times during their working life. Spare a thought for those politicians who no longer hold their previous positions as a result of a leadership change in Australian politics.
When a new political leader attains office there is the expectation of a cabinet reshuffle and new faces will appear in the ministry. Rewards for support need to be handed out but every new political leader has policy aspirations that lead in different directions and has the need to put the right people in place to achieve those objectives.
Consequently, many who previously held the levers of power find themselves returned to the backbench - and the need to ponder their future. Usually those who have achieved ministerial appointment are long serving politicians and the retirement rewards for those of senior rank are very generous. It must be tempting to think of resignation and a life free of the media scrutiny and constant blame that is the inevitable lot for those who win elected office.
Former Treasurer Joe Hockey has grasped that nettle and announced that he will retire from parliament. He will probably serve out the current parliamentary term so as not to create a by-election, but most likely he will simply wait and not contest his seat at the next election. There is an expectation that such a man of substance will be high on the list of potential appointees for an appointment in the public service, and already there are mutterings that Hockey could be a future ambassador to represent Australia in Washington.
There is precedent for such an assumption. Liberal Opposition leader Andrew Peacock and Labor Opposition leader Kim Beasley both served in that role as a reward for service in the parliament and Joe Hockey's stint as Treasurer elevates him to similar status.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has not yet made a decision on his future. Usually, when a prime minister leaves office it is because of defeat in an election and the opportunity exists to remain as the opposition leader in the hope of regaining office at a future election. This leadership transition was quite different. There was a loss of confidence in the prime minister in the party room, leading to a spill in which the numbers went against the holder of that office.
This is an unprecedented situation and while Mr Abbott has pledged loyalty to the new leader his retention as a backbencher will introduce tension into the parliament. It will be hard for him to adjust to his new role and there is the possibility of the formation of a group resisting the implementation of polices that take a new direction. He could become the core around which such opposition formed.
Fortunately, only a short life remains in this parliament and there seems every likelihood that the new prime minister may go to the polls early to seek a mandate for his policies. Mr Abbott may join Mr Hockey in simply not contesting his seat if that occurs.
Tony Abbott is still a relatively young man and if he quits politics it is likely that he will be considered for a posting in the International arena. It would be quite feasible for him to be in contention for a very senior posting to the United Nations, or even to Brussels and the headquarters of the European Union.
Having held the position of prime minister of a world country seems to be the ideal qualification for a rewarding life after politics !
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