What Scott Morrison will do next after huge election loss

After an “ugly four years”, Scott Morrison’s closest confidants have revealed the most likely path forward for the ousted prime minister.

EXCLUSIVE

Scott Morrison will not accept a frontbench role under Peter Dutton’s leadership but isn’t planning to quit politics anytime soon.

The former prime minister’s closest confidants believe that Mr Morrison is unlikely to contest the next election but is likely to remain in parliament for at least a year as a backbencher.

The alternative would be to subject the voters of Cook to a by-election just weeks after the federal election.

News.com.au has spoken to multiple colleagues, friends and staff who spent election night with the former PM and all are adamant he would decline a front bench position if offered a job.

And while they don’t expect he will remain in politics in the long term, they predict a by-election could be just 12 months away, with Mr Morrison remaining on the backbench in the meantime.

Such was the volatility of undecideds and the high voter support for independents, friends say Mr Morrison was still hopeful the undecideds would break his way, allowing him to form minority government, right up until election night.

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Scott Morrison is likely to remain as a backbencher for the Liberal Party for the next 12 months, before looking for a board role, his friends have said. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Scott Briggs, pictured with Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, has said the ousted Prime Minister would “let the dust settle” before looking to make any big career moves. AAP Image/Craig Golding

Over the weekend, the former prime minister and his wife Jenny were pictured enjoying margaritas and beers at Kirribilli House with loyal staff and cracking a whip – literally – to relax.

Scott Briggs, a personal friend and president of Mr Morrison’s federal electoral conference in Sydney, said if Mr Morrison ultimately chooses to leave politics he expected he would be looking for board roles.

“He will let the dust settle. Honestly, I think he needs a bit of time. I think he’s exhausted. It’s been a pretty ugly four years for him,’’ Mr Briggs told news.com.au.

“I saw him on election night. I’ve just spoken to him this morning. But for Scott, it’s more for him now about his colleagues than about himself. I mean, he’s obviously incredibly disappointed and he’ll be doing what every person in his position will do, which is ask ‘what if I’d done this differently? What if I had done that?’”

The former PM hosted a final party at Kirribilli House after losing the election. Picture: Channel 9

Mr Morrison was seen cracking a whip on the lawn. Picture: Channel 9

His wife Jenny was seen offering margaritas to guests. Picture: Channel 9

Mr Briggs said Mr Morrison expected to stay in politics in the short to medium term and was committed to the voters of Cook.

“I think if he left politics, he’d be looking at that sort of board level role,” Mr Briggs said.

“He will be looking for that sort of contribution to make. That is exactly what he would seek to do. I think he will take the Julia Gillard approach to life after politics rather than the Malcolm (Turnbull) or the Kevin (Rudd).”

Over the weekend, Mr Morrison confirmed he would be stepping down as prime minister but remaining in politics for the foreseeable future.

“I as leader take responsibility for the wins and the losses, that is the burden and that is the responsibility of leadership,” he told the Liberal faithful in Sydney.

“And as a result I will be handing over the leadership at the next party room meeting to ensure that the party can be taken forward under new leadership, which is the appropriate thing to do.”

Mr Briggs said Mr Morrison’s biggest achievements were providing leadership during the pandemic, the AUKUS agreement and settling the internal wars over climate change.

“Something he hasn’t got credit for … uniting a party as broad based as ours around net zero emissions at all was an incredible task. I don’t think any other leader would have got that done,’’ he said.

“Malcolm Turnbull tried and it cost him his leadership. You know, you had Tony Abbott who didn’t even want to attempt to do it because he didn’t believe in it. And I think for the party to get to a position where it, I don’t want to say neutralised the issue because obviously the teal candidates pick that up, but I think neutralises against the major parties.

“I think that’s an incredible effort. And I think it was really important for Australia that both major parties had a consensus position and I think now going forward, that issue will never be as contested.”

Mr Morrison addressed his local church, Horizon, tearing up as he spoke of the loss. Picture: YouTube/Horizon Church

Mr Morrison also visited church on Sunday, becoming tearful when he spoke of the burden and challenges of the job.

“Whether you’re a prime minister, a pastor, running a business, teaching in schools, working in the police force, it doesn’t matter,” he told the crowd.

“We’re each called to trust and obey. And that’s the life of faith He calls us to. That’s how we live our faith each and every day, regardless of what your job is, and to express it in how you do that.”

He thanked his fellow churchgoers for their support, noting: “You’ve given us a great foundation from which we could walk what has been a very difficult walk, I’ve got to tell you, over the last four years.”

“I’m very pleased that the last thing I say as PM is here. So I’m not going to rely on my own words,’’ Mr Morrison said.

He then quoted a passage from Habakkuk 3:17.

“Even if the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit on the vines, if the yield of the olive fails and if the fields produce no food, even if the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the Lord,” he read.

“I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”

In an Instagram post on Sunday he said he was looking forward to heading home.

“I am now looking forward to returning to the Shire, my family and continuing to serve my local community. For me life has always been about faith, family, friends and community. We are not our jobs but who we are as unique individuals, (in my view), loved by God,’’ he wrote.

“Jenny and I thank Australia for the honour to have served. I thank my family, friends and colleagues for all their support, especially my dearest friend Josh Frydenberg.

“God Bless.”

Originally published as What Scott Morrison will do next after huge election loss