Scott Morrison, the former Prime Minister, is facing a significant pay cut, with his salary slashed by over half.
However, before sympathies arise, it’s worth noting that his income, previously at $550,000 annually, will now be reduced to a still substantial $211,250.
Perhaps the real sting comes from losing the perks associated with the prime ministerial role, such as the complimentary residences in Canberra and on Sydney Harbour, access to a private plane, and the luxury of a taxpayer-funded chef and chauffeur.
Adjusting to a more typical lifestyle, the Morrison family will now tackle expenses like dry cleaning and groceries on their own. This might shed light on why Mr. Morrison was unable to recall the price of everyday items like milk or bread during the election campaign.
Then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny are pictured boarding an RAAF aircraft at Sydney Airport. Mr Morrison no longer has access to the government plane
These additional benefits previously amounted to around $350,000 annually, translating to about $1,000 daily. Consequently, the Morrisons might find themselves tightening their budget, similar to many Australian households.
During the election, Mr. Morrison labeled Anthony Albanese a ‘loose unit’ for backing a $1 hourly increase for minimum wage earners, who currently earn $20.33 an hour.
But don’t expect to see Mr Morrison looking for bargains in Aldi anytime soon — his after tax salary as an ordinary MP will still mean he gets around $12,000 a month.
You may bump into him in Sydney or Canberra airports though, as he will no longer have access to the VIP RAAF jet he has been using since becoming PM in 2018.
The Morrisons are moving back to the house they own in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, which was empty for three-and-a-half years until last February.
In February, the Morrison’s former pool cleaner Nikki Durant and her two adult sons moved in when her house in the Northern Rivers town of Woodburn flooded.
But the Durants moved out on Monday as the Morrisons need their home back.
Their former digs at The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney came with four full-time staff including a senior chef and house attendants, though.
Scott Morrison is pictured cooking with his daughter Lily in the industrial kitchen at The Lodge in Canberra. The Morrison family has move out since Labor won last week’s federal election
Scott Morrison (pictured) liked to post pictures to social media of him cooking curries in the kitchen of the tax-payer funded prime ministerial residence in Canberra, The Lodge
It is not likely that their house in the Sutherland Shire is big enough to accomodate staff quarters, though, even if they did hire some home help.
All former prime ministers are allowed to set up a tax-payer funded city centre office when they leave politics.
But Mr Morrison is understood to not be in any rush to leave politics yet.
Scott Morrison is pictured on the government plane, which he will no longer be able to use now that he is not the prime minister any more
Scott Morrison is pictured getting out of a government operated ComCar, one of the benefits of office
It is thought he will stay on as the member for Cook for a while until a corporate board room job comes up.
Until then, he will have to make do on his take home pay of $12,000 a month.
One benefit Mr Morrison will probably have, though, is the greater access to government operated ComCar given to former prime ministers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) stands with newly appointed Foreign Minister Penny Wong, at the door of the government plane, on their way to Tokyo for a Quad summit
