Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that he will be stepping down from his political role by the end of February. In a lengthy Facebook post on Jan. 23, Mr. Morrison expressed his gratitude to his colleagues and local party members in his electorate. He also announced that he would be pursuing a career in the private sector.
Mr. Morrison has confirmed that he will be working with global strategic advisory firms, and there are reports suggesting a potential relocation to the United States. He faced criticism for taking an overseas holiday at the height of the 2019 summer bushfires, and most notably was embroiled in allegations of sexual assault from a former parliamentary staffer.
During his tenure as prime minister, Morrison was at the forefront of the global pushback against Beijing. His government faced trade wars and he took a strong stance against the Chinese Communist Party on several matters, including calling for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. He also played a crucial role in forming the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, which saw an increase in defence partnerships and the arming of the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr. Morrison’s career outside of politics has involved a variety of roles within the public and private sectors. He previously worked as the managing director of Tourism Australia and was involved in the approval of a controversial tourism advertisement. After serving as a government figure for several years, Mr. Morrison will be embarking on his first lengthy stint in the corporate world.