In the lead-up to last year's federal election, there was lot of speculation that Mathias Cormann, in anticipation of the Coalition defeat many were predicting, had lined up options post politics. He was hardly alone and it was hardly surprising, given he had stated some months earlier he had no intention of returning to opposition.

On election night the Finance Minister was part of the Sky News panel covering the count from the station's Parliament House studio. As the result became clear and Liberal MPs across the nation punched the air with glee and relief, Cormann was chuffed but subdued.